Fact Check: ICE detained Moises Sotelo without notifying family or attorneys.

Fact Check: "ICE detained Moises Sotelo without notifying family or attorneys."

What We Know

Moises Sotelo, a vineyard manager in Oregon, was detained by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents on June 12, 2023. Reports indicate that he was arrested outside St. Michael's Episcopal Church, where he was surrounded by agents shortly after leaving his home. His daughter, Alondra Sotelo-Garcia, described the scene, stating, “He was in chains at his feet... Everything was taken from him” (The Guardian).

Following his detention, Sotelo's family and attorneys faced significant challenges in obtaining information about his whereabouts and the reasons for his arrest. Requests made to ICE for updates were reportedly met with dead ends, leading to concerns about the lack of communication regarding his legal status and rights (The Guardian). This situation reflects a broader trend of ICE operations in agricultural communities, where many workers are undocumented and often face sudden detentions without prior notification to family or legal representatives (The Guardian).

Analysis

The claim that ICE detained Moises Sotelo without notifying his family or attorneys is supported by multiple sources. The accounts from Sotelo's family members and local vineyard owners corroborate the assertion that there was no communication from ICE regarding his detention. For instance, Anthony Van Nice, a local vineyard owner, expressed his frustration over the treatment of immigrants, emphasizing that the government’s actions are inhumane and violate basic human rights (The Guardian).

The reliability of the sources providing this information is high. The Guardian is a reputable news organization known for its investigative journalism, and the details provided align with the experiences of other individuals in similar situations, as noted by local witnesses who reported on the aggressive tactics used by ICE agents during detentions (The Guardian). Furthermore, the lack of communication from ICE is a documented issue, as many families of detained individuals often report similar experiences of being left in the dark (The Guardian).

Conclusion

The evidence supports the claim that ICE detained Moises Sotelo without notifying his family or attorneys. The accounts from his family and local community members highlight a troubling pattern of behavior by ICE, where individuals are taken into custody without proper notification to their loved ones or legal representatives. Therefore, the verdict is True.

Fact Check: ICE detained Moises Sotelo without notifying family or attorneys.