MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Garrison Gibson, who fled Liberia as a child during the civil war, opened up during a news conference on Saturday, revealing that he has been too afraid to step outside his Minneapolis home since his release from an immigration detention center. His apprehension follows a contentious arrest that occurred amid the Trump administration's latest crackdown on immigration enforcement.
On January 11, federal officers forcefully entered Gibson's home, breaking down his front door with a battering ram. This incident has become a pivotal point for activists opposing the administration's handling of immigration in the Twin Cities, which has resulted in over 2,500 arrests.
Protests erupted as many residents became alarmed over the frequency and aggressiveness of immigration enforcement actions. Demonstrations against the federal ICE operation were scheduled for Saturday as tensions continued to build.
Gibson, now 38, is facing deportation due to a drug conviction from 2008, a ruling that has since been overturned; he has remained lawful under an order of supervision. However, after his recent arrest that occurred while he was merely checking in with immigration officials, a judge found that he had not been properly notified that his supervision had been revoked.
Following this ruling, a series of confusing actions led Gibson back into custody for several hours. His cousin, Abena Abraham, has reported that ICE officials mentioned that Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was involved in the decision to revoke Gibson's status.
The White House rejected this assertion, claiming no involvement from Miller regarding Gibson's case. Gibson described the fallout from his arrest, including lasting damage to his home and extensive repair costs to fix the door that was smashed in by federal agents.
I don’t leave the house, Gibson remarked, reflecting on the uncertainty that now defines his life.
The Department of Homeland Security accused the judiciary of obstructing efforts to detain individuals classified as criminal illegal aliens.” Gibbs has maintained that he is not a threat to society, stating, If I was a violent person, I would not have been out these past 17 years, checking in. The crackdown, which authorities claim is the largest of its kind in Minnesota, has incited consistent protests across the liberal sections of the Twin Cities.
As the federal crackdown continues, a judge recently ruled that peaceful demonstrators can’t be detained or subjected to force if they are not interfering with official actions, leading to the potential for further protests within the community.
