Nantucket, Mass. , after much effort illegal immigrant After a month on this idyllic island was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for sex crimes and assault, many residents fear their home has changed forever.
There were five migrants from Guatemala and El Salvador. Picked up by Boston’s enforcement and removal operations In different actions this month. According to the agency, Elmer Sola and Brian Daniel Aldana-Arévalo were charged with sex crimes against children; Félix Alberto Pérez-Gómez and Jean do Amaral Belafronte were charged with sexual crimes against adults; And Angel Gabriel Deras-Mejia was a documented member of the notorious gang MS-13.
Immigrants – many of whom have obtained H2B visas for seasonal work – are an important part of Nantucket’s tourism industry and make up a large portion of the summer vacation destination’s year-round population. Many local bars, such as The Muse, host packed Latino nights each week; According to online school district data, 41.5% of students in Nantucket’s public schools speak a language other than English at home.
Nantucket parents fear for kids amid surge in migrant crime: ‘As a father, it really scares me’
While residents told Fox News Digital that they embrace legal immigrants in their community, many expressed deep concerns about people living here illegally. These are unwelcome newcomers, he says, who have brought the nation’s border debate to the tiny island of Cape Cod.
A man in his 70s asked, “I’ve lived here for 53 years – I’ve seen a huge increase in crime. I’ve never seen the kind of abuse of children that I’ve seen over the years.” said outside one of two Nantucket grocery stores, speaking on condition of anonymity. “I never knew where our house keys were. Now, I have security cameras.”
The man said, “When I came here in the ’70s, Nantucket was a very conservative place. (Now), most American-born people here are completely liberal. We have good friends with whom we talk politics. But can’t talk.”
Boats are painted along one of Nantucket’s piers. (David McGlynn for Fox News Digital)
He said, “They don’t want to face the realities – the reality is that open borders have created an influx of undocumented people. As the statistics come out, there has been massive crime.” ICE data released to lawmakers this week,
“The response is ‘What can we do about it?’ When I said ‘send them back’ it was ridiculed,” he said.
Several residents told Fox News Digital that in the past, the worst incidents that have happened have involved drunk tourists accidentally walking into the wrong grey-shingled house. But the local newspaper’s crime spree has become deeper and more widespread, he said.
John Klatt, who works with Toscana Excavations, told Fox News Digital he was pleased ICE made the arrests earlier this month.
The Muse, a local bar that hosts bustling Latino nights every Saturday on Nantucket. (David McGlynn for Fox News Digital)
“My company, we are one of the largest excavation companies on the island,” he said. “It doesn’t affect us too much because we won’t hire (undocumented people). But I’m sure it affects a lot of other people (here).”
“I hear from minorities, ‘Oh, they’re killing us’ and all that,” he said. “But given his crimes, I’m not bothered by it.”
Fox News Digital spoke to about a dozen illegal immigrants on the island, primarily Salvadorans, who said targeted arrests of repeat offenders last month have left them fearful for their livelihoods.
“It’s terrifying for a lot of people,” said Esmeralda Martínez, who is serving her second term on the Nantucket School Committee and is the only Latina to hold elected office on the island. Nantucket Stream“People are hiding out of fear that they might be out here for them, even though most have no criminal record, but simply due to the fact that they are not here legally. This has caused panic among many people. “
Nantucket is home to approximately 14,000 residents. (David J. McGlynn for Fox News Digital)
Martinez did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
“We’re not trying to catch all the illegals — just the people who are violent members of MS-13,” another resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Fox News Digital outside the Chicken Box on the island. But there is an event venue. Locals often hang out during daylight hours.
Island resident Roland Voyage said the ICE arrests have not affected his sense of safety.
Thousands of illegal immigrants convicted of sexual assault, murder roam US streets: ICE data
“I park my car, leave my keys in it. Where are they taking it, the ferry company? Frankly, my friends and family are not impressed by it. (But) it’s nice to see that.” It’s ICE doing its job,” he said.
But Jack Faria, a 61-year-old Brazilian who lives in Nantucket and legally immigrated to the United States when he was 20, said other immigrants who are “not on the right track” bring “trouble.”
,it was stolen there in my neighborhood. These guys leave their keys in their car,” Faria said. “These guys, they were Brazilians. I know – I’m Brazilian.”
He said, “I don’t discriminate – I’m one of them. But I discriminate against people who just want to take advantage of the system.” “I’m a Republican – I completely agree with Trump and the mass deportation of immigrants.”
The Nantucket Police Department conducted an investigation that resulted in the arrest of ERO Boston on the island this month. The agency has referred Fox News Digital’s requests for comment to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. (David McGlynn for Fox News Digital)
Click here to get the Fox News app
“There are a lot of bad people here,” Faria said regarding undocumented immigration. “Most (illegal immigrants) are poor people – that means they have less education and less to contribute. These are the people I really don’t like.”
“Right now, I’m paying a very high price for health insurance. A lot of people on the island have free insurance,” Faria said. “Anyone who has no papers or pays no taxes gets free health care – I don’t.”
