The raid occurred on September 5 at a Red Bridge campground in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided a Washington state campsite on Labor Day weekend. Five illegal immigrants, each of whom was the father of their household, were arrested, impacting five families who had their weekend activities cut short.
The raid occurred on September 5 at a Red Bridge campground in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. US Forest Service rangers approached the campsite earlier in the day and expressed issues with it reportedly being "trashed." That's when rangers asked for everyone's IDs, King 5 News reported.
Just before midnight, the families were woken up by ICE agents, who arrived alongside the rangers, demanding they exit their tents. Federal agents took all of the fathers into custody. The five families were camping together for one last trip to close out the summer, said Carmen, one of the daughters, to the local network.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told The Post Millennial in a statement that all of the men taken into custody are Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in the country. At least one of them has a criminal record, while others illegally entered the US numerous times, according to the agency.
"On September 5, ICE arrested Sebastian Zurita-Villanueva, Bernardino Ramos-Villanueva, Faustino Carmona-Gijon, and Alvaro Robles-Villanueva, four illegal aliens from Mexico, and Rolando Robles-Villanueva, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, during a joint operation with the United States Forest Service in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest," said a DHS spokesperson. "They will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process."
"Zurita-Villanueva and Ramos-Villanueva illegally entered the country at an unknown time and place," the statement continued. "On October 6, 2004, Border Patrol encountered Carmona-Gijon near Jacumba, California, after he illegally entered the country, and immediately issued him a voluntary return to Mexico. He illegally reentered the country at an unknown time and place."
"On November 14, 2014, Border Patrol encountered Alvaro Robles-Villanueva near Westmoreland, California, after he illegally entered the country, and immediately issued him a voluntary return to Mexico," said DHS. "He illegally reentered the country at an unknown time and place."
"On May 14, 2021, Washington State Patrol arrested Rolando Robles-Villanueva for driving without a license, negligent driving, and making a false statement. On January 25, 2010, Border Patrol encountered Rolando Robles-Villanueva near Lukeville, Arizona, after he illegally entered the country, and immediately issued him a voluntary return to Mexico," the spokesperson said. "He illegally reentered the country at an unknown time and place."
DHS encouraged anyone unlawfully residing in the country to self-deport via the CBP Home App.
"The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the US the right legal way to live the American dream," the agency said. "If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return."
ICE agents did not apprehend the women and only took the men so they could care for the children at the campsite, said Carmen. The men were the primary source of income for their households, the families said in a crowdfunding campaign.
Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
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