ICE Detentions of D.C. Delivery Drivers Spark Community Fear and Service Disruptions

Recent incidents in Washington, D.C., have seen delivery drivers detained by law enforcement, including agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), sparking widespread concern and fear within the community and leading to noticeable disruptions in delivery services. Eyewitness accounts and video footage reveal instances where drivers, such as Sidi and Josue Mercedes Franco Cerros, were questioned about their immigration status and subsequently taken into custody, often without clear explanation or access to translators.

One such incident involved Tyler DeSue’s Uber Eats driver, Sidi, who was detained by multiple officers, some masked, and questioned about his vehicle registration and immigration status before being cuffed and put into an unmarked car. Similarly, Josue Mercedes Franco Cerros, a Honduran national, was arrested outside a restaurant where he frequently picked up orders and later appeared in an ICE detainee database.

These detentions, which have gone viral on social media, are having a chilling effect on the gig economy workforce. Many delivery drivers in the D.C. area have reportedly stopped working, fearing similar encounters. Residents and restaurant workers have observed a significant decrease in the number of drivers, impacting local businesses and daily life. Non-profit organizations like the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights note a pervasive fear among both documented and undocumented immigrant communities, leading individuals to avoid public spaces or work that they previously undertook without concern. The Department of Homeland Security and local authorities have yet to comment on whether these detentions are part of a coordinated effort targeting delivery drivers.

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