GREAT BEND — Reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Great Bend spread on social media Wednesday and Thursday. Official confirmation from local law enforcement remained limited as of Thursday, and USD 428 has contacted families about student privacy and safety.
A local law enforcement official told Tribune staff he had received confirmation that ICE agents are operating in the city and dispatch was notified Thursday morning.
A video posted to social media by Tacos Los Primos late Wednesday afternoon shows officers approaching a vehicle stopped near the intersection of 9th Street and MacArthur Road. The video was recorded from the business's taco truck on the west side of town. A vehicle with activated red and blue lights seen in the video has Texas license plates. Officers in the video wear vests with "POLICE" and "ICE" patches on the back. Photos of the same scene, posted by another social media user, show a person in handcuffs. The Tribune has not independently verified the circumstances of the stop. Neither the Great Bend Police Department nor the Barton County Sheriff's Office has confirmed whether the stop was connected to ICE activity.
Shortly after the video was posted, the business shared a message on social media: "Dear friends of Tacos Los Primos, we will be closed until further notice. Thank you for your understanding—from the Taco Los Primos team."
Barton County Undersheriff Steve Bellinger said he is not directly aware of any active ICE investigations in Barton County. He said federal agents are not legally required to notify local law enforcement before conducting operations. ICE regularly picks up detainees from the Barton County Detention Facility, Bellinger said.
Details were not available on how many agents may be in the area or why they are here.
School district responds
In an email response to the Tribune, USD 428 said it learned of the reports Wednesday evening from several concerned families. Asked whether any families had kept students home amid the reports, the district said it did not have attendance information to share.
Early Thursday morning, Superintendent Khris Thexton sent a message to district families titled "Student Privacy & Safety Reminders."
"In response to recent reports regarding the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Barton County, we understand that some families may be feeling anxious," Thexton wrote. "We want to assure you that USD 428 remains steadfast in our commitment to providing a safe, welcoming, and supportive learning environment for all students."
The letter said the district will continue to comply with state and federal laws protecting student privacy and safety.
"Please know that student information will not be shared, and access to students will not be granted, without parental consent or a lawfully issued warrant, subpoena, or court order," Thexton wrote.
The district asked parents to make sure their contact information on file with their child's school is accurate and up to date. Updates can be made through the child's attendance center. Absences should be reported through the SchoolMessengerHome app or directly to the child's school.
Families with questions or concerns can contact the USD 428 District Office or their child's school.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
