The father and daughter released from immigration detention this week were originally arrested in Billings after attending a free school supplies event, according to the charity that hosted it. Andrew Konkel, president and CEO of United Way of Yellowstone County, made the announcement in an emai l to other community organizations on Thursday — around the same time that the man and his 9-year-old daughter were being released. The United Way of Yellowstone County “backpack drive” took place on Aug. 11 and 12.  After arresting Adrián Espinoza De La Cruz and his daughter at the backpack drive Aug. 11, federal law enforcement drove the pair 250 miles north to a detention facility in Havre. They were released Thursday after a judge found that U.S. Customs and Border Protection had broken the law in arresting them.  Konkel wrote that a second “family” was detained the day after De La Cruz and his daughter were arrested, also after attending the backpack drive. He said federal officers later learned that family has legal immigration status and released them.  “The occurrence of two detentions immediately following attendance at our event on consecutive days raised serious concerns for us about whether our event was being observed as a means of identifying individuals or families for immigration enforcement,” Konkel wrote.  Konkel stressed that he did not intend to make “a political statement” or take a position on immigration policy. Rather, he said, he was worried about “the safety of the people we serve.” “At United Way of Yellowstone County, we believe people should be able to seek help, access resources, and participate in community programs without organizations inadvertently placing them or their families at additional risk,” Konkel wrote. “When someone walks through our doors — or attends an event hosted by one of our community partners — we have a responsibility to think carefully about their safety and about how we prepare for situations that could affect them.” A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a voicemail on Friday.  In light of the arrests last week, United Way of Yellowstone County is working to develop a training for local nonprofits, Konkel wrote in the email. The training would ideally teach staff what to do if immigration authorities show up at an event, how to prepare for that possibility, and what the service organization’s rights and responsibilities are.  Maintaining the trust of the people who use United Way’s services is critical, Konkel wrote.  “Protecting that trust — and doing everything reasonably within our ability to protect the safety and dignity of the people we serve — must remain at the center of our work,” he wrote.  Konkel did not immediately respond to an email and phone call seeking comment Friday morning.  In a ruling issued late Wednesday afternoon, Chief United States District Court Judge Brian Morris found the federal government’s arrest and detainment of De La Cruz and his daughter was unlawful and ordered their release “to remedy the constitutional and statutory violations committed by the Government against [them].” Molly Danahy, litigation director at Upper Seven Law, which represents De La Cruz, wrote in an emailed statement to Montana Free Press that the court’s decision to release De La Cruz and his daughter was “right, just and lawful.” “Courts around the country have agreed that [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] cannot simply snatch people like Adrián and his daughter off the streets,” she wrote. “As long as CBP and ICE continue their unlawful activities in Montana, we will persist in seeking justice for the wrongfully detained.” Nora Mabie contributed reporting.  The post Feds’ illegal arrest of dad, daughter took place after charity’s school supplies event appeared first on Montana Free Press. ...read more read less