Nantucket, Massachusetts – after a lot illegal immigration Many of the people held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on this idyllic island for a month on suspicion of sex crimes and assault fear their homeland has changed forever. .
Five immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador Captured by Boston's Removal Operation This month I am doing something different. Elmer Sola and Brian Daniel Aldana Arevalo were charged with sex crimes against children, the agency said. Felix Alberto Perez Gomez and Jean de Amaral Belafronte were charged with sex crimes against adults. and Angel Gabriel delas Mejia, a recorded member of the notorious gang MS-13.
Immigrants, many of whom are on H2B visas for seasonal work, are an integral part of Nantucket's tourism industry and make up a large portion of the summer vacation spot's annual population. Several local bars, like The Muse, host sold-out Latin nights every week. According to online district data, 41.5% of Nantucket public school students speak a language other than English at home.
Nantucket parents worried about children due to spike in immigrant crime: “As a father, I'm really scared.''
Residents told Fox News Digital that their communities welcome legal immigrants, but many expressed deep concerns about illegal immigration. They say these unwelcome newcomers have brought border disputes to the tiny island off Cape Cod.
“I've lived here for 53 years and I've seen a huge increase in crime. I've never seen child abuse like this in years,” said a man in his 70s. asked. I asked him not to give his name,” he said outside one of Nantucket's two grocery stores. “I had no idea where my house keys were. Now I have security cameras.”
“When I moved here in the ’70s, Nantucket was a very conservative place. [Now]most American-born people are completely liberal here. “We have good friends with whom we can't talk politics,” the man said.
Boats are photographed along the pier on Nantucket Island. (David McGlynn, Fox News Digital)
“They don't want to face the reality. The reality is that opening borders has led to an influx of illegal immigrants. When you look at the statistics, crime is rampant,” he said. ICE data released to lawmakers this week.
“The answer is, 'What can we do about it?' I said, 'Send it back,' and I was laughed at,” he said.
Multiple residents told Fox News Digital that the worst incident in the past was when an intoxicated tourist accidentally walked into the wrong gray-thatched house. However, the crime blotters in local newspapers are said to be more detailed and increasing in volume.
John Klatt, who works at Tuscan Excavation, told FOX News Digital he was glad ICE made the arrest earlier this month.
The Muse is a local bar on Nantucket that hosts a night full of Latino crowds every Saturday. (David McGlynn, Fox News Digital)
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“My company is one of the largest drilling companies on the island,” he said. “It doesn't affect us much because we don't hire. [undocumented people]. But I'm sure it's affecting many others. [here]. ”
“We're hearing from minorities, 'Oh, they're hitting us,'” he said. “But when I look at their crimes, I'm not angry about it.”
Fox News Digital spoke to about a dozen undocumented immigrants on the island, mostly Salvadorans, who say targeted arrests of repeat criminals last month have left them fearing for their livelihoods. spoke.
“It's scary for a lot of people,” said Esmeralda Martinez, who is serving her second term on the Nantucket Board of Education and is the only Latina woman to hold elected office on the island. nantucket current. “People hide out of fear that people will come here for them just because they are not here legally, even though most of them have no criminal record. That's causing a lot of panic.”
Nantucket Island is home to approximately 14,000 residents. (David J. McGlynn, Fox News Digital)
Martinez did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
“We're not trying to round up all the illegal aliens, just the violent members of MS-13,” said another resident, who requested anonymity, outside Chicken Box, an event venue on the island. He told FOX News Digital. Locals often kill time during the day.
Island resident Roland Voyage said the ICE arrests have not affected his sense of safety.
Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants with sexual assault and murder convictions roam U.S. streets: ICE data
“I park my car and leave my keys in the car too. Where will the ferry company take it? To be honest, my friends and family are not affected. . [But] “It's good to see ICE doing its part,” he said.
But Jacques Faria, 61, a Brazilian who lived on Nantucket Island and immigrated to the United States legally when he was 20, said other immigrants who are “not on the right path” are causing “problems.” he said.
”There was a robbery in my neighborhood. These people leave their keys in their cars,” Faria said. “They just happened to be Brazilian. I know, I'm Brazilian.”
“I don't discriminate. I am one of them. But I do discriminate against people who just want to take advantage of the system,” he said. “I'm a Republican. I completely agree with President Trump and the mass deportation of immigrants.”
Nantucket police conducted an investigation on the island this month that led to ERO Boston's arrest. The agency forwarded a request for comment from Fox News Digital to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (David McGlynn, Fox News Digital)
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“There are a lot of bad people here,” Faria said in reference to illegal immigration. “largely [illegal immigrants] Poor people have less access to education, which means they have less to contribute. These are things I don't really like. ”
“Currently, I pay very expensive health insurance. Many people on the island get it for free,” Faria said. “People who don't have any documents and don't pay taxes get free health care, and I don't.”
