Immigration protesters' tents torn down outside ICE in Louisville

Thomas Novelly | Courier Journal

Federal officials tore down protesters' tents outside the Immigration and Custom Enforcement office in Louisville Monday as protesters called for the abolition of ICE.

The day of protest began early, with protesters arriving around 5 a.m. at the ICE building near Seventh Street and Broadway, and seven Louisville Metro Police cars pulled up.

Around 7:15 a.m., Department of Homeland Security officers began tearing down their tents, canopies and more to remove the group from the lawn of the ICE building.

Related: Immigration rally splits as group calls out Fischer over 'sanctuary city' policy

Jesús Ibañez, an organizer of Occupy ICE in Louisville, said he was told they could be on the sidewalk and not federal property. Ibañez is also a leader of the local Mijente Louisville group and a law student.

“Is this a compassionate city, Greg Fischer?” Ibañez chanted.

However, some questioned the actions of the protesters.

“We are extremely disappointed by the actions of many at the rally today," Jim Stansbury, chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party, said in a news release. "Personal attacks on ICE officers, and calling the citizens who work there supporters of fascism, should not be tolerated. Their calls to eliminate ICE are calls to eliminate borders because a law without an enforcement mechanism is no law at all."

An officer on scene said they were called to oversee the "peaceful protest." An LMPD policy created last year limits their involvement with ICE after Mayor Greg Fischer learned that they had collaborated.

"While LMPD policy and Louisville ordinance limits the ability for officers to assist federal immigration agents in enforcement, it does not remove our obligation to enforce state law," LMPD said in a statement.

Earlier Monday morning, the group also set up a barricade outside of the ICE offices in downtown Louisville to block incoming government vehicles. Officers promptly dismantled the barricade.

The Monday protest follows an immigration rally on Saturday over President Trump's policies to separate migrant families at the border. The rally at Metro Hall split in two, with half of the group marching to the ICE building and calling on Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer to declare Louisville a "sanctuary city."

The protestors also put toys in front of the ICE office driveway. They said it was to symbolize the immigrant children separated from their parents.

A van coming out of the ICE building was trying to get through and asked protestors to move the toys. When they didn't comply, the van ran them over.

Shortly after that, a Department of Homeland Security Officer came out and swept the toys to the curb. The protestors put them back out again. DHS officers came back out and threw them away.

RAW VIDEO: Feds tear down ICE protesters' tent Federal officials tore down protesters' tents outside the ICE office Monday morning as protesters called for the abolition of ICE.

Smashed toys in front of Louisville’s @ICEgov office. A @DHSgov officer talked with a van driver before the vehicle ran over the toys placed in its way. Organizers said the toys were laid out for immigrant children being separated from their families. @courierjournal pic.twitter.com/HSwqyDJnhe — Thomas Novelly (@TomNovelly) July 2, 2018