The neighbors who lent their assistance “reported that they were worried and outraged because some had known the family for more than a decade,” the TIRRC statement said.

Several people recorded and live-streamed the incident on social media.

“They told local media outlets that ICE ‘picked the wrong community on the wrong day,'” the statement said. “What happened this morning shows how deeply rooted immigrants are in our community.”

TIRRC’s statement said the ICE agents had “no judicial or criminal warrant to apprehend” the man, who was within his rights to remain in the van.

“ICE doesn’t have the authority to enter your home or private property without a warrant signed by a judge,” the TIRRC statement said. “The majority of the time, ICE only has an administrative warrant — not a judicial one.”

ICE came for their neighbor, so these Tennesseans formed a human chain to protect him

mmmhmmm