An agent affiliated with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement directs a bystander to stand on the curb as she films the beginning of an interaction with multiple masked officers in plain clothes Tuesday morning in Northfield. A patch on the officer’s vest contains the word “deplorable.” (Submitted) Armed, masked men wearing plain clothes and bulletproof vests now known to be affiliated U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement apprehended a Northfield resident of over a decade earlier this week in what elected officials representing Northfield at all levels of government have called violent and possibly an unconstitutional violation of due process.Because he's still working on getting his state-issued driver's license, Adán Núñez Gonzalez was in the passenger seat of his own SUV after being driven to work by his friend and colleague along Washington Street in Northfield shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday, when four unmarked SUVs boxed them in. The agents surrounded the vehicle and began to question the occupants, eventually breaking into the window to extract and arrest Núñez Gonzalez without ever showing a warrant or credentials.The incident was captured in at least three videos, all of which were provided to Northfield News. The first shows the initial questioning. The second shows part of the arrest.The third, which was recorded by Núñez Gonzalez's crying 15-year-old son, shows the arrest, which comes the month after a bulletin was issued to the Department of Homeland Security by the Federal Bureau of Investigation privately urging ICE agents to identify themselves, due to several instances of robberies, kidnappings and sexual assaults by criminals impersonating ICE agents across the country.Although the agents can be seen wearing bulletproof vests showing the words "police" and "ICE" — at least one agent's vest contained a patch with the word "deplorable" — and badges that appeared to be similar to ICE badges, lookalikes are easily found for sale online.One concerned resident of Northfield and reader of the Northfield News expressed worry about the lack of identification previously reported by other media."If the ICE agents are detaining our residents without verification of their own identities or their legal authority to do so, I would hope that at least ICE had contacted the local police office in advance of the operation," wrote Kim Follett. "If not, how are we to know if this was a legitimate operation or a rogue vigilante group taking action?"Northfield Police Chief Jeff Schroepfer posted on Facebook that the agency did not reach out ahead of time, but that local officers were dispatched after concerned residents called 911 to report the incident. The department's policy forbids them from intervening in federal-enforcement actions.Northfield-based Spanish interpreter Krissa Anderson arrived on the scene as the agents were driving away. She's been working with the family to provide support where needed."He had left his ID at home, so he didn't have it," she said. "I actually saw it at their house. … They never showed ID, according to the family members, and they didn't show a warrant. Actually, when I was there, we asked if they had shown a warrant or if they had anything. They said, 'Well, they threw some papers on the seat,' and they went to the seat of the car. It was insurance information for the broken window."Using Núñez Gonzalez's A-number, or "alien number," an ICE database shows he is currently being held in Kandiyohi County Jail. Shattered glass remains along the curb of Washington Street shortly after sunset Wednesday, the day after masked agents with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement broke into a vehicle and arrested a father who has been a resident of Northfield for over a decade and has no criminal record. (Colton Kemp — SouthernMinn.com) Status pendingAnderson clarified Saturday that Núñez Gonzalez’s wife is registered with federal agencies while her asylum case has been pending for about 10 years. He, despite past efforts, was not.A retired lawyer and immigrant-advocacy volunteer in Northfield, Gina Washburn, who was also at the scene Tuesday, explained the process of being "registered” versus not."Under the Biden Administration, for example, when a migrant crossed the southern border into the U.S., they present themselves at a border-patrol crossing and in essence turn themselves in," she said. "Immigration detains them, assigns them an identifying number (registers them) and then releases them into the U.S., if they can prove they have a relative or someone who can support them. This was known as 'catch and release.' Immigration then uses this registration to keep track of the person in the U.S. and to contact them for regular check-ins."As to protection from detention, no. Under this administration, nothing protects from detention, including being an asylum applicant with a work permit and Social Security number. Anyone coming into the U.S. 'illegally' (crossing the border) is fair game," Washburn said.Núñez Gonzalez’s wife told Anderson he has no criminal history. She was also told he works and provides for their family."I'm not sure why they would target somebody who doesn't have a criminal record … when they say they're supposed to be targeting the worst criminals," she said.Washburn said he was compliant with the agents, but added that doesn’t usually make a difference."It's unclear why this person was treated so violently," she said. "He was not armed, he was not resisting or even being disrespectful to the agents; he was just sitting in the car. Under this administration, complying with immigration does not stop them from detaining and deporting. People showing up for their check-in and for their asylum hearing, etc., are being detained and deported."Oath of officeNorthfield Mayor Erica Zweifel said Tuesday's arrest "traumatized the community" and "left a family without their father or husband.""That said, it would be irresponsible for us not to express some concern about the approach the current federal administration is taking, regarding the freedoms and civil rights that every resident of our community deserves," she continued. "We fully acknowledge that we do not know the complete circumstances around the current issue at hand. However, we are fully committed to the U.S. Constitution and the laws of our land, which include due process and protection under the Bill of Rights."Minnesota Rep. Kristi Pursell called the actions Tuesday "unnecessarily extreme.""The disappearing of one of our community’s valued Northfielders, Adán Nunez Gonzales, has left us scared and angry, but we are not deterred," she said. "I’ve been in touch with his family, community groups and local leaders to offer my support in any way I can as we respond to this unconstitutional act. Right now we are united as a community in grieving, but we will move forward together. We must continue to speak up and speak out against unconstitutional actions like these."U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and ICE Director Todd Lyons expressing "deep frustration and concern" over the handling of the incident."The conduct by these agents was incredibly concerning as there were children present and the agents refused to identify themselves or provide an arrest warrant, potentially violating due-process rights," she wrote in the letter. "I'm further concerned by the fact that ICE did not inform local law enforcement or city leadership of their presence within the city."Supporting neighborsAnderson has been working with the family of the detainee, coordinating a meal train, a GoFundMe page and other supports."I still felt completely shaken afterwards," she said. "It was really hard, you know? I mean, we didn't know where they were taking him when they left. Their family was completely distraught. It was really rattling. I felt horrible for the rest of the day, and super tense, and didn't sleep well and all those things. But I feel like, if I'm feeling that horrible, imagine how this family is feeling."ICE spokespeople responded to requests for comment by asking for Nunez Gonzalez's A-number, but have not yet responded to a followup email with the requested information.The Northfield Community Action Center created the Northfield Supporting Neighbors Fund, which at NorthfieldSupportingNeighbors.org can receive donations for families in need of legal assistance.Visit TinyURL.com/NunezGonzalez to find the family's GoFundMe page. Reach Reporter Colton Kemp at 507-645-1115. © Copyright 2025 Adams MultiMedia of Southern Minnesota. All rights reserved.