Overview
- Photos posted by neighbor Whitney Newman showed skeletons in ICE shirts pursuing figures in sombreros and ponchos over a fence, prompting viral backlash.
- The sheriff’s office declined comment and directed inquiries to Michelle Burch, who cited her Cuban background and said her husband only mowed around the decorations.
- Latino community leaders, including Grace Resendez McCaffery, condemned the imagery as harmful and said it risks stoking fear and division.
- The dispute follows recent scrutiny of local immigration enforcement, including video of a deputy striking Henry Castilo and the county’s role in the federal 287(g) program.
- Ahead of Mobile’s Latin Fest, Sheriff Paul Burch said he knew of no operations targeting the event and described enforcement efforts as focused on individuals with criminal backgrounds.