Immigration enforcement hits Kona with parents and young children recently deported

Immigration Customs Enforcement agents have been on the Big Island recently conducting what the federal agency says is an operation to locate undocumented children who are in the United States without their parents.

“The goal of the initiative is to conduct welfare checks to assess the living conditions of the children to ensure they are not being subjected to human trafficking or exploitation,” said Erin Musso, Public Affairs Liaison for Homeland Security Investigations in Honolulu.

But in the midst of the Enforcement and Removal Operation on the Big Island, four children in two separate incidents were taken into custody — but all of the minors were living with a parent.

In one case, a 7-year-old boy was pulled out of Konawaena Elementary school about two weeks ago to be deported with his father, who Musso said had a final deportation order.

The incident caused an uproar among some teachers in the community who plan to hold a sign waving on Thursday to express their opposition to federal agents picking up children at public schools.

In the other case, federal agents picked up an undocumented mother and her three young children at a farm and their home in South Kona on March 6.

A video of the incident, which has been seen by many on social media, shows two young children, a boy who appears to be a teenager and a woman being escorted down a rural road by three ICE agents to a white van, with their belongings in shopping bags. The distressed woman put one hand on her face while holding the hand of a child. Crying can be heard.

Hawaiʻi Island Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz said the family initially was taken to the Kona police station where they waited for a few hours before being taken to a hotel, and then put on a flight and flown back to their home country.

Musso confirmed agents served a federal warrant in South Kona where they encountered four people – a mother and three children – who were undocumented.

More details about both cases was not available.

And, it is unclear what this federal operation is accomplishing regarding its stated mission of locating undocumented, unaccompanied children on the Big Island. Musso would not provide data on how many unaccompanied children the operation has located, and if any such children were found to be in danger, or were destined to be deported.

But Musso did say the agency has “an obligation to continue to enforce federal immigration laws when we encounter people who are not present in the United States legally.”

Since 2014, the total number of unaccompanied alien minors who have come to Hawai‘i and been released to sponsors, usually family members, is 168, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

These children are supposed to remain with these sponsors while they await immigration proceedings.

In fiscal year 2023, there were 56 unaccompanied alien minors reported to have come to the state of Hawai‘i, the largest number in the past decade. That number dipped to 26 the past fiscal year. And since October, the number is 10.

Moszkowicz said the instances of the federal agency deporting families on the Big Island are new to him. He is only aware of this happening when his officers are asked to assist in an operation like was the case two weeks ago when ICE agents picked up an undocumented man who informed them he had a 7-year-old son in class at Konawaena Elementary.

“I suppose it makes sense that ICE/[Homeland Security Investigations] would check in on [unaccompanied alien minors] from time to time to make sure they aren’t being exploited or trafficked,” the chief said.

But Moszkowicz said the case with the child in school created a “dilemma” for the police department.

“We didn’t want the son not to get picked up or go home and his dad not be there,” he said.

Moszkowicz worked with Child Protective Services and the the police department’s school resource officer to take the young boy to his father, so they would be deported together.

“Our role is not to do immigration enforcement,” Moszkowicz said. “At the same time, part of our role and responsibility is to ensure things are done safely and people are treated humanely and the rights of everyone are protected.”

Musso said Tuesday that Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations apprehended the father, who had a final deportation order.

She said that the federal agencies were “committed to keeping families together” and “promptly arranged for the child to be safely picked up and reunited with his father.”

Musso added: “Subsequently, both father and child were returned to their country of origin.”

In a letter sent home to families on Tuesday, Konawaena Elementary School Principal Jessica Dahlke said news reports suggesting the school cooperated with law enforcement to facilitate the removal of a student were “inaccurate and does not reflect our commitment to student safety and privacy.”

She said the school does not release confidential student information to law enforcement without a judicial warrant.

“In this instance, law enforcement approached the school seeking information about a student,” Dahlke stated in the letter. “Consistent with our policies, we did not provide any information and sought legal guidance to ensure we followed proper procedures.”

Dahlke explained that when a parent or guardian cannot be reached, the school’s protocol is to reach out to the child’s emergency contacts. If none are available, the principal said they work with Child Welfare Services.

“In this case, after exhausting all other options, [Child Welfare Services] directed the school to involve law enforcement to facilitate the child’s transfer to their care at a designated location,” Dahlke said. “At every step, we followed established guidelines to protect the child and acted in their best interest.”

In the letter, Dahlke reassured families the school remains committed to supporting and safeguarding its students and advised parental guardians to ensure their emergency contact information is up-to-date with the school.

“As always, we prioritize the well-being of our students and adhere strictly to policies that protect their rights,” Dahlke stated.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment by the storyʻs publishing.

Jill Jacobs, a third-grade teacher at Kealakehe Elementary, said she was spurred into action after a fellow teacher showed her the video of three young children being taken from their home by ICE agents.

“I only watched it once and every time I think about it I’m on the brink of tears,” Jacobs said. “That video had such a visceral reaction in me. We need people to know that Kona is not immune.”

As a member of the Hawai‘i Teachers Association Kona chapter, Jacobs organized a sign waving on Thursday, in Kona along Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

While they are opposing children being taken from schools, Jacobs said the event is also to inform the community that “Hispanic communities are being targeted, and we really want to bring attention to it.”

While she hasn’t seen them herself, Jacobs said she’s heard of agents coming to not only Konawaena Elementary but also Konawaena Intermediate and Kealakehe Elementary. She’s also heard of agents going to ballfields where children are participating in sports.

At the sign waving on Thursday, Jacobs said she will be passing out information about red cards, a document that gives examples of how people can exercise their rights in real situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.

“We want people to know this is happening to our children and community members and it’s not OK,” Jacobs said. “Teachers need to know their rights, and children and families need to know their rights and protect themselves.”