US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been caught in a clandestine operation to house more than 60 migrants, including young children, in a four-star Sheraton hotel in Louisiana. The move, which appears to bypass standard detention protocols, has ignited fury and confusion among local officials and residents.
The scheme was uncovered not through official channels, but by a sharp-eyed local resident who noticed unusual activity and contacted campaigners. It represents a significant and controversial shift in how federal authorities are managing the influx of people at the US-Mexico border.
Covert Operation in a Four-Star Setting
For several days, the Sheraton Four Points in Alexandria, Louisiana, functioned as an unofficial detention centre. Migrants, believed to be from the Texas border, were transported to the hotel and held under guard by ICE personnel. Unlike official facilities, this arrangement lacked the typical public oversight and notification procedures.
Local law enforcement and city officials were deliberately kept in the dark. Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood was only made aware of the situation after being alerted by a concerned citizen, a revelation that has caused significant friction between local and federal authorities.
A Pattern of Secretive Hotel Detentions
This incident is not an isolated one. Reports indicate that ICE has utilised hotels in at least five other states—Texas, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia—under a programme quietly expanded during the Biden administration. This practice allows for the rapid detention of migrants, often families, outside of the traditional and often-criticised ICE detention centre network.
While officials argue it is a necessary response to overcrowding, critics lambast the lack of transparency and potential for inadequate conditions. The hotels, not designed as detention facilities, may lack appropriate medical resources, legal access, and recreational space for those being held.
Local Backlash and Humanitarian Concerns
The discovery in Alexandria has provoked a strong local backlash. The situation has raised serious questions about the welfare of the detained individuals, particularly the children involved.
Sheriff Wood expressed his frustration, stating the lack of communication from ICE put his community at an unnecessary disadvantage. The secretive nature of the operation has sowed distrust and anger, with many questioning the legality and morality of using hotels as makeshift prisons without public knowledge.
This event underscores the ongoing challenges and contentious policies surrounding US immigration enforcement, highlighting a move towards more opaque methods that are increasingly drawing scrutiny from both the public and local governments.
