BRIGHTON, N.Y. — A man was arrested by ICE agents while trying to get his morning coffee at a 7-Eleven across from McQuaid Jesuit High School. The incident, which occurred at 10 a.m. last Thursday, was captured on video.
The security camera video shows the man’s car being immediately surrounded by unmarked vehicles before it even comes to a stop. An agent approached the driver’s door as it opened, while a second car blocked the other side. A masked agent with a vest labeled “Police. ICE” was also present.
More agents arrived and handcuffed the driver. Archid Massalti, the store manager, opened the door to inform the agents that the man they arrested does not speak English well.
“I’ve known him for a long long time,” Massalti said. “And I know he’s legal. His kids are here. One of them is in college.”
Massalti recorded the incident on his cell phone. The unmarked cars and SUVs drove the man to the Aldi’s parking on S. Clinton Avenue lot about half a mile away. Shortly after, ICE returned to the corner store and released him.
Brean: “Did you talk to him after he was dropped off?”
Archid Massalti: “Yes he was complaining about the handcuffs that day, kind of put them tight. It kind of hurt.”
Brean: “Did he tell you anything about what happened to him?”
Massalti: “No, he didn’t say much. He barely speaks English. I have a hard time understanding what he is saying.”
The Brighton Town Supervisor, Bill Moehle, addressed the lack of communication from ICE.
Brean: “Do you get notified when federal agents come into the town to make an arrest?”
Bill Moehle: “The police department has not been notified when ICE has been involved in this area no.”
Brean: “Do you think you ought to be extended that courtesy?”
Bill Moehle: “Courtesy but more than that. It’s important that the Brighton Police Department knows when other agencies are in the area.”
The Brighton Police Department does not get involved with civil immigration cases. The man arrested is Chinese and a permanent resident. He owns a restaurant in the city, but he and his family declined to comment on the incident.
News10NBC reached out to ICE for their policy on detaining someone to check their papers but received no response. Typically, ICE requires the alien ID number of the person arrested to provide a reply, which was not available in this case.
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