COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEE SOMETHING, TO PLEASE SAY SOMETHING. BREAKING AT THIS HOUR… REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN MIKE EZELL SAYS HIS OFFICE IS MONITORING A SITUATION INVOLVING TWO STUDENTS WHO ATTEND HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL, WHO WERE PICKED UP BY ICE. EZELL SAYS HIS OFFICE IS IN CLOSE CONTACT
ICE detains foreign exchange students for visa violation
Brothers at Hancock High were supposed to be attending Piney Woods
Two brothers who were attending school in Hancock County were taken into custody by ICE last Tuesday.According to a public affairs officer for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Israel and Max Makoka are from the Republic of Congo. The brothers were on a student visa. ICE said they violated that visa, because they were supposed to be attending The Piney Woods School.In a statement, ICE said, “They were granted the opportunity to participate in a student exchange program. However, they failed to attend that school. Because they violated their visas, they are subject to removal.”According to a report from WDSU via WXXV, the brothers’ host mother, Gail Baptiste, said Max, 15, and Israel, 17, who play basketball, were on the school bus in Diamondhead about to head to Hancock High School when ICE picked them up.Despite Baptiste’s report, ICE said Israel is an adult. Rep. Mike Ezell posted a message on social media saying he was aware of a situation involving two Hancock High School students who were picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”I know this has raised serious concerns in the community … We will continue working to ensure that laws are enforced responsibly while also organizing the impact these situations have on families and communities,” Ezell said in part on Facebook.
Two brothers who were attending school in Hancock County were taken into custody by ICE last Tuesday.
According to a public affairs officer for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Israel and Max Makoka are from the Republic of Congo. The brothers were on a student visa. ICE said they violated that visa, because they were supposed to be attending The Piney Woods School.
In a statement, ICE said, “They were granted the opportunity to participate in a student exchange program. However, they failed to attend that school. Because they violated their visas, they are subject to removal.”
According to a report from WDSU via WXXV, the brothers’ host mother, Gail Baptiste, said Max, 15, and Israel, 17, who play basketball, were on the school bus in Diamondhead about to head to Hancock High School when ICE picked them up.
Despite Baptiste’s report, ICE said Israel is an adult.
Rep. Mike Ezell posted a message on social media saying he was aware of a situation involving two Hancock High School students who were picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“I know this has raised serious concerns in the community … We will continue working to ensure that laws are enforced responsibly while also organizing the impact these situations have on families and communities,” Ezell said in part on Facebook.
