Rally held at Monterey County jail after teen detained by ICE

UPDATED 5/2/2017 10:00 p.m.: A protest in Salinas Tuesday afternoon where a rally was held over the possible deportation of a Salinas teenager.

Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal says the teen was taken by ICE because of a paperwork error.

Protesters stood outside the Sheriff’s office for nearly an hour and a half chanting for Juan Martinez, the teenager, to be freed and to keep ICE out of Monterey County. Bernal says it’s not that simple.

Martinez, a “Dreamer” was arrested on a misdemeanor charge in March. Due to the paperwork error he is now in ICE custody.

Bernal says that what did happen this time, won’t happen again.

“This is a new system that we’re working and we couldn’t predict this obviously or it wouldn’t have happened so yeah, I can say this is a one time thing” the sheriff said. “It was a simple fix, something that we didn’t see coming but we fixed it, one person slipped through the cracks.

That may not be enough for protestors who want ICE out of Monterey County. The Sheriff says the relationship they have with ICE is an important one.

“If I’m forced to not work with ICE in the jail ICE will come into the community and pick these people up” Bernal said. “Right now, there’s a very peaceful transfer once they’re released from the Monterey County Jail, they’re released directly to ICE right outside of the jail.”

Still, protestors say Martinez’s case represents a bigger problem and one they plan to fight back against.

“There’s injustices happening in our community and it’s up to us as members of this community who love Salinas who love Monterey County to come out and speak for justice” said protestor Karen Araujo.

Martinez is currently at a federal detention center and has a hearing scheduled for Wednesday in San Francisco.

PREVIOUS STORY: Protesters rallied at the Monterey County Jail over the Salinas teen facing deportation after a trespassing charge.

Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal says Juan Martinez was mistakenly handed over to ICE because of a procedural error.

Sheriff Bernal is responding to concerns from protesters. KION’s Zach Fuentes will have the story at 10&11.