Federal immigration agents raided the home of a family in Oklahoma City who had recently moved to the area, seizing their belongings despite the residents stating they were U.S. citizens and not the subjects of a search warrant. The incident has left the family without their personal electronics or funds.
The woman living in the home, identified as Marisa, had moved to Oklahoma City from Maryland with her three daughters approximately two weeks before the raid occurred Thursday morning. She was joined later by her husband.
Marisa reported that around 20 armed men forced entry into the northwest Oklahoma City home. The agents identified themselves as being from the U.S. Marshals, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the FBI.
According to Marisa, the agents had a search warrant for the address, but the names listed on the warrant did not match anyone living in the house. She recognized the names as potentially belonging to former residents based on mail still arriving at the address.
She stated she repeatedly told the agents, "We just moved here from Maryland. We’re citizens." She described the agents as dismissive and rough during the search.
Agents reportedly forced Marisa and her daughters outside in the rain while they searched the property. Marisa reported being ordered to change clothes in front of the agents.
During the raid, agents confiscated the family's phones, laptops, and life savings in cash, taking them as evidence. Marisa questioned how she was expected to manage without these items and funds, particularly regarding feeding her children and needing gas money.
Reports on agency involvement have varied. Initially, Marisa stated agents identified themselves as being from the U.S. Marshals, ICE, and the FBI. A spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service later denied having agents present during the raid, though acknowledging awareness of the operation. The FBI initially stated they were assisting but later denied being on the scene, directing inquiries to Homeland Security. Homeland Security has reportedly stated they are looking into the matter.
The family has not received contact information from the agents and remains uncertain how to recover their confiscated items. Marisa described the experience as traumatizing for her and her daughters.
"You literally traumatized me and my daughters for life," Marisa told News 4.
