Crowd of 200 rallies against ICE in Region

EAST CHICAGO — A crowd of about 100 people is lined up outside East Chicago City hall holding signs protesting recent local activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents earlier this week. 

The protest was organized by Purdue Northwest University student Rafael Manzo Jr., an 18-year-old who founded the non-profit “More Action For Students.” He said he had this protest scheduled in September, prior to this week’s uptick in ICE activity.

Richard Medina, East Chicago City Clerk and long-time East Chicago PD veteran, said he's “never used a mask” to make an arrest.

“I arrested drug dealers, criminals and rapists, and I've done it all without a mask,” Medina said. “For 24 years in law enforcement, I never wore a mask. I was always proud to wear the badge and my name upon my uniform.”

Local officials are in attendance including School City of East Chicago council members Vanessa Hernandez-Orange, Terence Hill, and Jesse Gomez. Dwayne Rancifer, a councilmember at-large is also at the protest. 

When asked by The Times about his thoughts on the suspected ICE presence in the Hammond PD parking lot, Gomez said he was disappointed. 

“I thought we should have been more proactive. This is not the first time ICE has been out in this Midwest area, and it was just a matter of time that it was going to happen here," Gomez said. "I thought the mayor of Hammond did a great job of responding immediately. Eddie Melton did a good job in Gary as well. I would have liked to see more aggressive support from the administration here in East Chicago.”

Crowd of 200 rallies after ICE seen in Region: LIVE