Savannah vigil honors victims of recent ICE incidents

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - People gathered Tuesday night to honor those who recently lost their lives during incidents involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The groups Savannah Indivisible and Migrant Equity Southeast coordinated the vigil that took place at The Episcopal Center on Waters Avenue in Savannah.

Organizers say Tuesday’s event follows recent protests across the nation in response to ICE-related deaths in Maine and Florida. On July 13th, ICE agents shot and killed 26-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero during a vehicle stop in Biddeford, Maine. Then on July 14th, someone fleeing immigration agents was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer in St. Augustine, Florida.

In February, Chatham County also saw a deadly car chase involving ICE agents. Police say Hesse K-8 teacher Linda Davis died in a crash as ICE agents tried to stop Oscar Vasquez Lopez.

“We want to make sure that we take a moment to remember everyone’s names, everyone’s stories,” said Daniela Rodriguez with Migrant Equity Southeast. “And we remember they are more than a number. And we should not normalize this--people dying.”

Monday, dozens of Democratic U.S. senators pushed for more details from ICE about the agency’s vetting practices for new agents and how officers conduct vehicle pursuits.