Maryland woman allegedly calls ICE on workers just before finishing $10,000 roofing job/ Image credit: @elsalvadordeantes/Instagram
A roofing job in Maryland has triggered widespread outrage after a homeowner allegedly reported six workers of Guatemalan origin to immigration authorities while they were here near completion, with footage of the detentions circulating widely online.The incident, which was livestreamed and later deleted, has drawn scrutiny not only for what the video appears to show but also for the circumstances under which the workers were reportedly detained.
Livestream shows ICE agents detaining workers on a roof
The incident was captured in a livestream by co-worker Bryan Polanco, who has been identified in multiple reports as a Dominican national with permanent US residency and part of the same roofing crew. The video, originally posted on Instagram and lasting roughly 30 minutes, has since been deleted but continues to circulate across social media platforms.
Israel Iran War
In the footage, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are seen arriving at the property and instructing workers on the roof to come down. A woman, believed to be the homeowner, is visible in parts of the video watching the situation unfold.Polanco can be heard calmly asserting his right to film while cooperating with officers. “I have every right to record,” he tells an agent. “I’m not doing anything wrong either.” He also narrates the unfolding events during the livestream. “We were starting a job and immigration showed up,” he says. “The truth is they’re hurting working people, people who do good for the country.”He adds: “Instead of going after the criminals in the streets, the drug addicts — they come after the people who work.” Six workers, reportedly aged between 18 and 40 and said to have travelled from Glen Burnie for the job, were detained. Polanco was not taken into custody.When agents left with the workers, the crew’s van remained at the scene, reportedly with its doors open and tools worth thousands of dollars still inside.
Allegations the call was made mid-project
According to Polanco, the homeowner contacted immigration authorities after the job had begun.“We practically had a project to start today… when they started the work, the homeowner kind of called immigration,” he told Spanish language broadcaster Univision.He also claimed the homeowner had made her position clear regarding future work. “What she did tell me, and what I told one of the other guys, is that if immigrants come back again to finish the project, she will always call ICE.”
Image credit: @elsalvadordeantes/Instagram
Near the end of the livestream, Polanco turns the camera toward the house and points out the woman outside.“That’s the same woman,” he says. “We came to fix this lady’s house, and she’s the one who turned us in. Fixing up her house and still with hatred in her heart.”Some reports and online commentary have suggested the call may have been timed close to the completion of the work, allegedly to avoid paying a bill of around $10,000.
Families speak out as clip spreads online
Polanco later described the experience in an interview with the outlet, saying it had a strong emotional impact.“Seeing it is not the same as experiencing it. I’ve seen many videos, and sadly today I had to experience it, and I feel that it’s something that really moves you,” he said.He added: “I’m very saddened by the situation… many Hispanics here in the United States have felt persecuted. We leave our homes and don’t know if we’ll ever return.”Family members of those detained also spoke of distress. The wife of one of the workers said: “I feel so sad, desperate for my husband… we’re here to get ahead, not to do evil,” adding that she was five months pregnant and had two children at home.
Legal questions raised over homeowner’s actions
The incident has prompted legal scrutiny. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said that if the allegations are accurate, the homeowner’s actions could fall under Maryland law prohibiting the use of immigration threats to obtain labour or avoid payment.He cited Maryland Criminal Law Code Section 3-701, which bars obtaining services through threats involving immigration enforcement. If proven, such actions could amount to a felony.
Image credit: @ReichlinMelnick/X
As of Thursday, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had not publicly commented on the incident. The homeowner has not been identified and no charges have been announced.
Online reaction and unanswered questions
The video has been viewed millions of times across platforms, fuelling anger and debate.Some social media users called for legal action against the homeowner. “This is pure wickedness,” one user wrote. Another added: “I would love it if they could charge her for knowingly hiring immigrant workers.” Others questioned whether she could face consequences for employing the workers in the first place.The roofing company involved has not publicly commented.
