During Elko New Market City Council’s Thursday, Jan. 22, meeting, Councilor Josh Berg brought up concerns and questions he had from a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) action Friday, Jan. 9, in the community.
Berg explained ICE agents used the back parking lot of the combined city hall/police station as a staging area and while the agents were in town, they went to a construction site for a residential apartment on the town’s west side on Old Town Road looking for an individual. He said the man ran from the scene and allegedly forced the patio door open at a nearby apartment, according to a police report. Apparently, the man was afraid and begged the person at the apartment, who was probably terrified also, to help shield him, Berg said, adding the man was taken into custody by ICE agents.
“There are all types of ways this could have gone sideways,” said Berg. He noted the construction site was not far from Eagle View Elementary School and if the incident had happened later in the day, school busses could have been passing by while the events played out.
“I’m worried about the affects this may have on our community,” Berg said. People are scared about showing up for work, they are worried about what might happen if they do, said Berg. He added, “I don’t know what the way to go about this is. I don’t know how to help. What are we going to do as a community?”
Berg admitted he was rambling, but felt it was something he had to get off his chest. He said there are criminals out there, but what if it looks like the criminal act is being done by a federal agent? Would the police intervene?
Chief Craig Bell replied if there are...
To see more on this story pick up the January 29, 2026 print edition of The New Prague Times.