Brooklyn residents and immigrant rights groups are calling for the immediate release of Roberto Lamour, a Haitian father detained by ICE at his Flatbush home on Oct. 3. The campaign seeks his return to his wife, Darchnee, and their daughter, who is not yet 3 years old, according to the Haitian Times.
Lamour was taken from his apartment at 75 Lenox Road in Flatbush and initially held at Delaney Hall, an immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, before being transferred to a detention center in Mississippi, according to amNewYork.
Residents allege that federal agents identified themselves as New York City police officers to gain entry to the building and apartment. The NYPD told amNewYork it had no knowledge of or involvement in the incident. Friends say Lamour has no criminal record.
Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette D. Clark issued a statement regarding his arrest, calling the incident "blatantly xenophobic, inhumane and cruel" in a press release. "I stand with Mr. Lamour's family, neighbors and the Haitian community in calling for answers, accountability and his immediate release and return to his home in Brooklyn," Clark said.
The detention has been especially difficult for Lamour’s young daughter. According to a statement reported by amNewYork, Darchnee Lamour said the child runs to the door whenever the doorbell rings, believing her father has returned.
On Oct. 22, neighbors gathered with New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams at a Flatbush news conference to demand Lamour’s release. Joseph, who represents the neighborhood’s District 40, said her office was working with the family to press for his return.
The campaign includes the 75 Lenox Road Tenant Association, Hands Off NYC, the New York Immigration Coalition and Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees. Their involvement reflects concerns about immigration enforcement, residents’ security at home and the impact of family separation on Brooklyn’s immigrant communities.
Joseph has pledged to continue coordinating with local, state and federal authorities on the family’s behalf. Residents and advocacy groups are urging federal officials to release Lamour and reunite him with his family in Brooklyn.
The campaign remains focused on securing his return, while the allegations surrounding the arrest have prompted calls for accountability and greater transparency in immigration enforcement.
