Harriett Flores thought Thursday was going to be like any other day.

She and her husband, Jose, were getting ready for work as their 8-year-old daughter, Lily, prepared for school in their Oakmont home.

Then, when Jose and Lily left the house on their way to Lily’s school, everything changed.

Harriett Flores, 38, said her husband took Lily outside and was warming up the car when he was approached by two Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents.

“The ICE agents came up to him, showed no warrant. They just shackled him,” Flores said through an interpreter. “They said he was getting arrested because he was illegal in the country.”

When she tried to ask questions, one of the agents told her to shut up because her daughter was present, Harriett Flores said.

A video Harriett Flores took of the incident shows, Jose, 47, being shuttled to an unmarked vehicle by the agents shortly after 10 a.m.

A search of ICE’s detainee locator system shows Jose is in custody and, as of Friday, was being held at Northern Regional Correctional Facility and Jail near Moundsville, W.Va.

Lily, an elementary school student in Riverview School District, didn’t go to school Thursday. Harriett Flores said her daughter spent most of that night in tears.

“She was screaming, ‘I want my dad,’” Harriett Flores said. Lily fell asleep with a photo of her dad hugged to her chest, her mother said.

“I’m devastated,” Flores said. “I don’t know where to start.”

The couple came to America from Nicaragua on Oct. 30, 2022. Flores said they were escaping what she called a corrupt government. She worked for a sector of the government there and was at risk of being arrested if she refused to go on campaigns for the government, she said.

America offered more freedom and a safer life for her and her family.

Flores said her husband has no criminal record. A TribLive search of state and federal court databases showed no criminal record nor pending charges against Jose.

State Rep. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, said in a social media post Friday that Jose’s immigration status is legal. He called the incident an abduction.

Harriett Flores said she and Jose each have five-year work visas. Both are employed, making the visas valid. They also both have Real IDs, valid driver’s licenses and Social Security numbers.

“We have affirmative pending asylum,” Flores said. The status means the couple was likely to be granted asylum in the United States.

ICE did not respond to a TribLive request for comment Friday.

The rest of Flores’ family is afraid, as well. Her sister said she’s worried about sending her children to school.

“We’re also human beings,” the sister said through an interpreter. “They shouldn’t define us for our appearances. We’re all equal. A legal status does not define anyone.

“We’re hard-working, very honest people.”

Community reaction

Oakmont officials said they were unaware of ICE’s presence in the borough until word got out about Jose’s arrest.

Borough Manager Scot Fodi said Oakmont does not have any working agreements with ICE or any other federal agencies.

“The Borough is aware that ICE recently conducted an operation within our community that resulted in the detention of an Oakmont resident,” Fodi said in a statement. “The borough was not given advance notice of the operation, and the operation was conducted solely by ICE agents, without assistance or coordination from the borough or its police department.”

Riverview Education Association, the union that represents Riverview teachers, released a statement saying, in part, the incident has created fear across the district.

“This action has had a chilling and immediate impact beyond one household. Students in our district are now expressing fear for their own safety and uncertainty about whether it is safe to attend school,” the statement said.

Union members stand in solidarity with the Flores family and with all students and families who are feeling vulnerable and afraid, the statement said.

Riverview Superintendent Neil English said district officials are aware of the incident.

“We have reached out to the family and are providing support for our student,” he said in an email.

What now?

Flores isn’t sure of the next steps for her and Lily. Without Jose, she can’t afford to rent the place they’re in while also dealing with their car payments and bills.

For now, they’re staying with family and attempting to contact a lawyer to help Jose.

If they can secure his release, the plan is to stay in the U.S. She doesn’t know what will happen if he’s deported.

“He’s a loving father. … He’s an amazing husband,” Flores said. “He’s very friendly. He gets along with everybody at work.”

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