Three Collinsville teenagers detained by ICE while en route to work in central Illinois
Charles Bolinger
Editor • A traffic stop in central Illinois on June 9 led to the detainment of three teenage boys from Collinsville.
Jesus Alexis Cruz, 16; Hector Cruz Sanchez, 19; and Jonathan Godoy, 19, are all in the United States without legal status. The trio were en route to work in Morrisonville, a small village between Taylorville and Litchfield in Christian County, Illinois.
According to St. Louis Public Radio, a family spokesperson, Anna Marie Bell, alleges that police pulled over the work truck the boys were in then she claims that the local police contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to retrieve the boys to bypass the Illinois Trust Act, a state law forbids local law enforcement from helping federal immigration agencies with civil immigration enforcement. Bell is a community organizer, activist and the Democratic committee person for Edwardsville’s 11th precinct.
Bell also alleges that the local police left the boys on the side of a road so they would look like they were homeless when ICE arrived and she said these actions amount to kidnapping by the federal government.
Bruce Kettelkamp, Christian County Sheriff, disputes the assertion that deputy involved that day contacted ICE. He added that the Christian County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Morrisonville Police Department on a traffic stop. An email with questions was sent to the Morrisonville Police from this newspaper on June 11. As of three p.m., no reply has been received.
Morrisonville’s Police Chief, Robert Aten, told the radio station that he initiated the traffic stop and apparently ordered the boys’ truck to be towed but Aten said the boys were move to a nearby gas station so they would not be left on the highway. A member of the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Anthony Telford, told the radio station that ICE officials just happened to be near the gas station when they picked up the boys. Morrisonville’s police department does not use full-time officers.
Per news reports, Cruz’s aunt and uncle went to St. Louis to get more information about the situation but were denied details. They want to know who transported their nephew, their contact information and who gets custody of Jesus. Bell said Cruz Sanchez and Godoy were transferred to an ICE facility in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.
“[On June 9], our office learned that three Collinsville residents were detained by ICE while on their way to work,” said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. “We understand that one of the individuals may be just 16 years old, which raises serious concerns. Our team is in contact with those close to the individuals and is working to gather additional information about their situation. This news comes just two weeks after my visit to the Ste. Genevieve detention facility, where many individuals from southern Illinois detained by ICE are often transferred. As we continue to learn more, I will use every oversight tool available to demand transparency and seek answers.”
Budzinski’s communications director, Josie Lionetti, said they know the 16-year-old has been moved to Texas but they don’t have additional information despite their efforts to learn more, which will continue.
Dr. Brad Skertich, Collinsville School District’s superintendent, verified that the trio are not current and former students, respectively.
State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, released a statement on June 11 about the situation.
“Like many in our community, I am shocked and angered by reports of a local teenager being taken by ICE agents,” she said. “I have been in contact with the governor and attorney general’s offices, as well as our federal officials who are assisting the family.
“As a mom, I can only begin to imagine the horror this family is experiencing. As a community member, I am horrified by the tragedies we’ve seen involving ICE detainments in the Metro East.
“Regardless of our politics, none of us voted to have children abducted off our streets by agents who have repeatedly shown that they will not be bound by law or by basic decency. There are ways we can stay involved and ensure our voices are heard, though that may feel like an uphill battle.”
Stuart said she and her office will continue to monitor this case and aid the family and federal officials as much as possible.
Her statement ends with, “If you see ICE activity anywhere in Illinois, file a report to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights hotline at 855-435-7693.”
