SARATOGA SPRINGS — Immigration and Customs Enforcement was back in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday, arresting 11 people for allegedly re-entering the country, ICE officials said.

The 10 adult men and one male 17-year-old were picked up near their homes by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations. One man was Guatemalan, the other nine men were Mexican. They ranged in age 20 to 49 and face what ICE calls administrative immigration violations or visa fraud. No further information was available on the minor.

This comes two weeks after ICE arrested 16 men near their city homes on the same non-violent felony charge.

While the city's policy is a hands-off approach to ICE, there is growing concern that the group's continual presence in the city will affect the economy.

"I'm not doing the investigation, but I've been told by business owners that the folks that are being picked up do have legal papers," Mayor Joanne Yepsen said. "So I'm getting mixed messages from the federal authorities and the local businesses. We have to resolve the issue because this is chipping away at our city's ability to be super successful, which is what Saratoga Springs is known for."

Maddy Zanetti, president of the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, backed up Yepsen, saying there is confusion among business owners.



"Some of the restaurants will hire illegal immigrants unknowingly because they seem to have the proper identification," Zanetti said. "The fear is that they will get these workers in and then they will be taken away in the middle of the summer. Hopefully, there will be no more issues."



While no one will speak on the record, it's not just businesses that are concerned. There is fear among backstretch workers at Saratoga Race Course too. Many, the Times Union has been told, will forego this year's meet.



The level of anxiety for anyone who has crossed the border illegally is high since President Donald Trump took office. During Trump's first months in office, ICE has been directed to step up enforcement of immigrants who have crossed U.S. borders illegally. The Washington Post reported that, from January to May, ICE arrested an average of 400 illegal immigrants a day, a 37.6 percent increase over the same period last year under President Barack Obama, who was labeled as "Deporter in Chief."



"ICE focuses its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security," Khaalid Walls, spokesman for ICE, said in May. "However, as ... (Homeland Security Secretary John) Kelly has made clear, ICE will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention, and if found removable by final order, removal from the United States."

Earlier: ICE arrests 16 in Saratoga Springs

Meanwhile, the burgeoning sanctuary movement in the city is trying to help those affected by the arrests.

"When we heard about the arrests yesterday, we opened up the church to anyone who might need to come in," said Terry Diggory, coordinator of the Welcoming Immigrants Task Force at the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church. "We are very concerned about the raids going on and we want to be available for support."

Rev. Joe Cleveland of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs actually went downtown to try to intervene.

"By the time I got there, it was over," Cleveland said. "We will do everything we can to help because this is traumatizing."

Detainees are arrested, processed in Albany County jail and sent to Batavia, Genesee County. From there, they will likely be deported.

The minor was transferred to the Department Health and Human Service's Office of Refugee Resettlement for placement, consistent with ICE policy relating to minors. The minor will appear in immigration court.

"Quite honestly, they have limited options," immigration lawyer Cianna Freeman of Tully Rinckey said. "The reality is, if they don't have a relative with a green card or they are not victims of a crime in their home country and they have entered the country without inspection, they are highly limited legally. Eventually, this is going to affect the economy. Business owners are finding good workers that they want to keep here and are willing to pay for their legal status. But the long and short of it is there are no legal avenues."