EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in Liberal Monday to follow through with President Donald Trump’s commitment to remove those who have entered the United States illegally and have committed crimes while in the United States.
According to a social media post by Liberal Mayor Jose Lara, “... up to, if not more than, five people were taken today from Liberal. The federal agents have left town for the night. I introduced myself to them and followed them out of town to Highway 83. They have every intention of returning in the coming weeks.”
In an earlier post, Lara stated that two of the arrests were Cuban nationals. He also added, “Please remember do not open your door until they show you a signed warrant.”
Local officials, by law, are required to cooperate with the enforcement of immigration enforcement.
In 2022, Gov. Laura Kelly signed HB 2717, which outlawed sanctuary cities in Kansas. The bill also stated that law enforcement agencies and officers, including municipalities and taxing entities, must cooperate “with federal officials regarding citizenship, immigration status and enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
The law also states, “No municipality shall enact, implement or enforce an ordinance, resolution, rule or policy that prohibits or in any way restricts a law enforcement officer, local official or local government employee, from taking the following actions with regard to information of the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of an individual: (1) Communicating or cooperating with federal officials; (2) sending to or receiving information from the United States department of homeland security; (3) obtaining or maintaining information; or (4) exchanging information with another federal, state, or local government entity.”
The law also states, “A municipality shall not limit or restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
Thank you ICE !!!!!
You helping keep American citizens safe. Liberal Kansas being completely taken over by illegal immigrants it's sad that the whole city seems to be under siege.We welcome all "legal citizens"that goes through the process.,Why the government stands by and does nothing in liberal Kansas, it's crazy. I wonder how many illegal immigrants are working for national beef one of the biggest companies in the area there
The illegal entry of immigrants into this country is against the law and needs to be addressed. Liberal is being completely taken over by illegal immigrants in the last 20 years. It's not the liberal of old years.And hopefully get it under control if it requires deportation, so be it.
Good job, greatly appreciate it.
You do realize that most of the population in liberal are mostly Mexican and other races than whites? Without the Mexican, guatemalan, and other races, liberal is nothing.
And all that are here legally can stay.
I'm not sure what people don't seem to get about the term illegal immigrants. That means not being here legally. Respect the process.
They are doing the jobs no one else wants…they are not hurting anyone they are feeding their families…leave them alone…If it weren’t for National Beef Liberal would be nothing.
First off what ever happened to the right of free speech?? I commented on your Facebook post sharing this article and was subsequently blocked? In response to Ed’s above comment I am glad you feel safe. Now is the time to go ahead and apply at National Beef and take back those jobs that have been taken over by illegal immigrants and while you are at it maybe you should take a refresher course in grammer. The ignorance by yourself and so many others is astonishing to me.
Yes, rejoice that ICE is breaking up families and disappearing people in the middle of the night! You'll have access to all those jobs at the meat packing plant that you've been yearning to do. Worked out really well for Nebraska. Maybe all of you who think this is great, can go hang dry wall or kill cattle or stand on a roof all day.
Ya'll remember that the packing plant operated for decades before Joe Biden wreaked the border? Longer than most folks in Liberal been alive? I doubt we will have to eat dirt because a few illegal criminals are removed. I hope the illegals can pay enough tax to maintain the city budget because a lot of taxpayers bailed on Liberal in the past few years, myself and father among them.