Reports of ICE raid in Columbus are false- Management fights back

On Wednesday, social media channels circulated a message supposedly posted on Reddit saying that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were spotted at Saraga International Grocery. The well-known supermarket employs immigrants, including Ghanaians, and carries products from other countries that’s a draw for various ethnic groups.

The rumors quickly gained traction, sparking fear in the city’s immigrant communities and prompting advocates to call and visit the store on Morse Road.

By Friday, however, the management of Saraga had firmly denied these claims, labeling them as false and potentially harmful propaganda.

“There is nothing like that, I’ve been here since 7 a.m., and nothing happened either outside or inside the store,” said Medhi El-Khatib, the store’s general manager, in an interview Friday.

“Customers are being scared by these social media rumors,” El-Khatib said. “Stop lying to people.”

This incident highlights the dangerous power of misinformation, especially in immigrant communities already facing heightened fear and vulnerability in the days after President Donald Trump signed a slew of orders aimed at deporting undocumented immigrants. Rumors like these not only disrupt businesses, but also cause panic that makes it harder for immigrants to feel safe anywhere, community members and leaders say.

“We need to keep the conversation open and remind our communities to verify the facts before jumping to conclusions,” said immigration attorney Yola Lamarre, who visited Saraga when she heard about the raids.

“Panic only works to divide us, and we need unity now more than ever,” Lamarre added.

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