(The Center Square) — Seven foreign nationals were detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a truck stop in Hosston last week.
Reports show that ICE detained the migrants in a raid on the TA Express Truck Stop on March 13. The facility has been a subject of controversy, as officials have spent numerous council meetings addressing the newly proposed 2% sales tax levied on goods sold at the truck stop.
“I think if anybody were to vote in favor of supporting this, they would just be being hardheaded at this point,” Caddo Parish Commissioner Chris Kracman told The Center Square. “It’s kind of hard to stand by giving a tax break to a gentleman that’s not even employing Hosston citizens.”
The District 1 commissioner has been very vocal in opposing the 2% sales tax proposed on the truck stop in his district. Kracman took to Facebook to say many citizens were reaching out about the alleged raid, prompting him to question Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, about the incident.
McCormick sent a response.
“We have received information from Representative Jay Gallé, Chairman of Homeland Security, indicating that a total of seven individuals were detained and subsequently deported. It appears that these individuals were found to be in violation of federal immigration laws, prompting action by I.C.E.,” the response said.
Many Louisiana residents commented on Kracman’s post asking if the truck stop would be fined.
“District 1 Commissioner Chris Kracman, tells me that the people of North Caddo are not in support of the additional sales tax being proposed for the new truck stop and a total sales tax of approximately 12.5% does feel excessive,” Caddo Parish Commissioner John Atkins told The Center Square. “Thus, I will be voting with Commissioner Kracman in opposition to the proposed sales tax increase.”
“This was not being enforced until recently. My understanding is that the guys, one or two of them had work permits. They all had alien numbers,” James Silvio, co-owner of the truck stop, told KTAL News.
KTAL’s story also said Silvio was informed of the raid before it happened and cooperated with the ICE agents.
In an ongoing debate, many commissioners and officials are divided on the proposed tax at the truck stop. Some believe they made a verbal promise that they need to keep, while others think asking 12% on items in the store is too much for locals to pay for goods.
There is no written agreement for the discussed tax increase, but some commissioners say there is a verbal agreement between the truck stop owners and the parish to increase the sales tax rate.
“I’m not gonna be for a tax hike anyway as it is because there’s already a 10% tax up there. So, originally I was against it just on principle. But, now that we are getting into the weeds of this thing, there are several legitimate holes in this whole thing,” said Kracman.
