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Father and daughter, then another family, detained by ICE after Billings school supplies event

Billings, MT

Father and daughter, then another family, detained by ICE after Billings school supplies event

A father and his 9-year-old daughter were detained by ICE agents immediately after leaving a United Way of Yellowstone County backpack distribution event in Billings, Montana, and were transported to a detention facility in Havre. A federal judge later ordered the pair released, finding agents had not obtained a warrant before pulling the family over and arresting them. United Way CEO Andrew Konkel said agents appeared to be staying at a nearby hotel and may have targeted families leaving the parking lot rather than the event itself. The next day, another family was detained after attending the same event; they were later found to have legal status and released. Following the two detentions, United Way warned more than 100 area nonprofits and began developing training on responding to immigration enforcement near community events.

Timeline

Jan 2, 2025Second family detained by ICE after attending same event
Jan 2, 2025Second family released after legal status confirmed
Jan 2, 2025United Way warned over 100 nonprofits and began developing enforcement-response training
Jan 1, 2025Father and 9-year-old daughter detained by ICE after leaving school supplies event, taken to Havre facility
Jan 1, 2025Federal judge ordered release of father and daughter, citing lack of warrant

Sources

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