Woman avoids paying her roofing bill by calling ICE: report
American Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick reacted Thursday to allegations that a Maryland homeowner may face felony charges after calling ICE on Guatemalan contractors to avoid paying a $10,000 roof repair bill.
According to video documentation, the woman hired the workers and waited until completion to contact immigration authorities to detain them. Live video footage showed ICE agents surrounding the workers, who expressed shock in Spanish while the homeowner was filmed "tidying up the house."
Agents left behind the workers' van with thousands of dollars worth of tools inside.
Reichlin-Melnick cited Maryland Criminal Law Code Section 3-701, which prohibits obtaining labor or services through the threatened notification of law enforcement regarding immigration status. If allegations prove accurate, the homeowner faces felony charges.
The incident represents one of several recent cases where individuals weaponize immigration enforcement for personal gain, including a Wisconsin robbery case involving forged assassination threat letters.
Watch the video below.