Early Wednesday morning, ICE conducted a targeted operation near Sidewinder Drive and Kearns Boulevard, taking four individuals into custody.
“Park City Officers were not involved in the operation itself and/or arrest of any parties,” said Park City Police spokesperson Lt. Danielle Snelson. “Park City Police Department does not take part in immigration enforcement operations that focus solely on immigration status.”
The Park City Police Department became aware of the incident after the operation when they were notified of a vehicle left at the scene which was partially blocking traffic, Snelson said.
Park City resident Debi Burns, who witnessed the incident, said there were about eight unmarked vehicles at the scene. She said that most of the cars had police lights in the grill of the car but there was no other indication that they belonged to law enforcement.
“They looked like somebody’s private individual car. They didn’t say ‘police,’ they didn’t look like police cars,” she said.
The federal agents at the scene were wearing protective vests and some had masks covering their faces, Burns said. She recalls seeing some of the vests labeled “POLICE,” with “HOMELAND SECURITY” below, identifying the officers as ICE agents.
Burns said she and her husband pulled into an adjacent parking lot to observe the situation and take photos, and she later called the Park City Police Department to ask whether local officers had participated. A lieutenant called back and confirmed Park City police were not involved and said that, typically, federal agencies provide a courtesy heads-up before conducting ICE raids — a notification that did not occur on this occasion.
According to the Immigrant Defense Project, a national organization that works to protect immigrant rights in the U.S., if ICE stops you on the street, at work, while driving a car, or at court, you have fewer legal protections than if you were inside your home.
The Fourth Amendment requires immigration agents, or police, to have a judicial warrant signed by a judge to enter a home without consent. An ICE “administrative warrant” (the ones they usually carry, like Form I-200 or I-205) does not allow them to enter a home without consent, according to the organization.
Once an individual is outside of their home — walking, driving, working, or attending court — they have fewer legal protections, which makes it easier for ICE to question or arrest someone even based on their criteria of “reasonable suspicion” or “probable cause” and whether or not they had been priorly targeted.
Individuals always have the right to remain silent, to speak with a lawyer and to not sign any documents without a lawyer present, the organization said.
Documentation is key with interactions with ICE. Advocates recommend writing down the time, date, and location of the encounter, along with the names or badge numbers of officers. Save any documents officers provide and connect with a trusted legal representative as soon as possible, such as the Wasatch Immigration Project.
Bystanders have the right to observe and document public officials in public spaces. It is within anyone’s rights to ask for an officer’s name and badge number. Staying calm and respectful helps protect safety while supporting transparency.
With reports of people impersonating immigration officers, legal experts emphasize that thorough documentation is one of the best safeguards. Recording and taking photos from a safe distance without interfering can help ensure accountability.
More information and resources can be found at immigrantdefenseproject.org.
The Trump administration has increasingly ramped up their efforts to hire more ICE agents. The President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is $107.9 billion.
The Department of Homeland Security is promising new hires up to $50,000 signing bonuses, and $60,000 in student loan forgiveness.
The agency has held recruitment fairs across the country, including one that took place in at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo from Sept. 15-16.
With growing uncertainty, local immigration attorneys encourage all people to know their rights.
Undocumented immigrants in the United States possess certain constitutional rights, primarily stemming from the 14th Amendment’s due process and equal protection clauses, which apply to all “persons” within the country’s borders, not just citizens.
Know Your Rights “red cards” serve as a quick reference guide when someone is faced with a situation involving law enforcement. The card can be shown to officials while remaining silent.
These red cards are available for free online through the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. They can be ordered or downloaded and printed at home and are offered in 49 languages. To access them, visit ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas.
Reference know your rights story: swiftcharge.net/2025/06/27/when-facing-ice-know-your-rights-say-local-immigration-attorneys/
Spanish: swiftcharge.net/2025/06/30/abogados-locales-instan-a-conocer-sus-derechos-ante-operativos-de-ice/.