A roofing job in Maryland sparked widespread outrage after a homeowner allegedly reported six workers of Guatemalan origin to immigration authorities as they neared completion, with footage of the detention being widely circulated online.The incident, which was livestreamed and later removed, has drawn scrutiny not only for what is seen in the video, but also for the circumstances under which the workers were allegedly detained.
Livestream shows ICE agents detaining workers on a rooftop
The incident was captured in a livestream by co-worker Brian Polanco, identified in multiple reports as a Dominican citizen with permanent U.S. residency and part of the same roofing crew. The video, originally posted on Instagram and lasting about 30 minutes, has been removed but continues to circulate on the social media platform.The footage shows Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arriving at the property and directing workers on the roof to come down. A woman, believed to be the homeowner, is seen observing the situation in parts of the video.Polanco can be heard asserting his right to film peacefully while cooperating with authorities. “I have every right to record,” he tells an agent. “I’m not doing anything wrong.”He also explains the events that unfolded during the livestream. “We were opening up jobs and immigration came in,” he says. “The truth is they’re hurting working people, people who are doing good for the country.”He adds: “Instead of going after the criminals, the drug addicts on the streets, they come after the working people.”Six workers detained were reportedly aged between 18 and 40 and were said to have come from Glen Burnie for work. Polanco was not taken into custody.When the agents left with the workers, the crew’s van remained at the scene, reportedly with its doors open and thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment still inside.
It is alleged that this call was made in the middle of the project
According to Polanco, the landlord contacted immigration authorities after the work began.“We practically had a project to start today… When they started the work, the owner of the house called immigration,” he told the Spanish-language broadcaster. Univision.He also claimed that the homeowner has made his position clear regarding future work. “What she said to me, and what I said to one of the other people, is that if the immigrants come back again to complete the project, she will always call ICE.”
Image Credit: @elsalvadordeantes/Instagram
At the end of the livestream, Polanco pans the camera toward the house and points it at the woman outside.“She’s the same woman,” he says. “We came to fix up this woman’s house, and she invited us in. She is getting her house in order and yet she has hatred in her heart.”Some reports and online commentary have suggested that the call may have been timed closer to the completion of the work to avoid paying the alleged bill of approximately $10,000.
As clip spreads online, families speak out
Polanco later described the experience in an interview with the outlet, saying that it had a deep emotional impact.He said, “Seeing it is not the same as experiencing it. I’ve seen a lot of videos, and sadly I had to experience it today, and I think it’s something that really affects you.”He said: “I am deeply saddened by the situation…Many Hispanics here in the United States feel oppressed. We leave our homes and don’t know if we will ever return.”Family members of those detained also spoke of problems. The wife of one of the workers said: “I feel very sad, desperate for my husband… We are here to move forward, 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 a legal investigation. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said that if the allegations are true, the homeowner’s actions could fall under Maryland law, which prohibits the use of immigration threats to obtain labor or avoid payment.He cited Maryland Criminal Law Code Section 3-701, which prohibits obtaining services through threats related to immigration enforcement. If proven, such actions could amount to a serious crime.
Image Credit: @ReachLynMelnik/x
As of Thursday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had not commented publicly on the incident. The homeowner has not been identified and no charges have been announced.
Online Feedback and Unanswered Questions
The video has been viewed millions of times across various platforms, sparking anger and debate.Some social media users demanded legal action against the landlord. “This is pure evil,” one user wrote. Another said: “I would love it if they could charge him for knowingly hiring immigrant workers.” Others questioned whether they might have to face consequences for employing the workers in the first place.The roofing company involved has not commented publicly.