ODESSA, TX – Tensions are rising as community members take to the downtown Odessa streets in response to an ICE raid in Midland last month. Protesters are demanding accountability and action, saying the raid has left families devastated.

In late February, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations arrested and processed almost a dozen people working in a bakery and Mexican food restaurant at 510 E Florida Avenue in Midland, Texas.

The following people were arrested in the Tortilleria La Perla raid:

• Jose A Lazaro-Acosta, 21
• Cesar A Bravo-Acosta, 23
• Antonio Rita-Gomez, 24
• Ofelia A Perales-Romero, 26
• Karina Lopez Valenzuela, 29
• Elsa G Fernandez-Euler, 36
• Sonia Y Rodriguez Rios, 42
• Antonio Perucho-Cortez, 53
• Maria G Perez-Cervantes, 54
• Keila Y Guajardo-Delacruz, unknown

When asked what misconceptions people might have about undocumented people, community organizer Levi Berlanga answered, “That they’re all criminals. These were hardworking people with no criminal records.”

This protest marks the second one of the year in the Midland-Odessa area. It was entirely peaceful, underscoring the community’s call for empathy and open dialogue.

Police presence was minimal. Odessa PD monitoring the event did not interact with protestors, and vice versa.