In response to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations across Kansas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas said it is reviewing reports of interactions between federal agents and the public, including a recent incident in Johnson County.

The attorney’s office said in a statement that it decided not to pursue charges after ICE arrested a 19-year-old driver who was ultimately determined to be a U.S. citizen.

U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser said he is concerned about recent incidents of people allegedly “using their vehicles to aggressively chase or interfere with federal agents engaged in their official duties,” he said in the statement, citing a Feb. 14 incident in Olathe.

Federal agents were conducting a “targeted search for an identified individual,” according to Kriegshauser’s statement.

“During that time, ICE agents had an encounter with two other local residents who were involved in tracking and following ICE agents while using their vehicle in an exceedingly aggressive manner,” Kriegshauser said.

The license plate number on the vehicle was associated with a different person who had an outstanding warrant and had been deported, the statement said.

This led agents to stop the vehicle. A 19-year-old man who was driving the vehicle was arrested.

Kreigshauser said his office reviewed the arrest for interference. The 19-year-old allegedly admitted to following federal agents in his vehicle and reckless driving. However, the attorney decided not to pursue charges against the man, Kreigshauser said in a statement.

“That decision may change if additional information is obtained,” the statement said.

As part of his statement, Kreigshauser warned the public that interfering with ICE operations can lead to felony charges.

Feb. 14 ICE arrest in Olathe

While the statement doesn’t identify the man who was arrested, details of Kriegshauser’s statement align with accounts of Brian Nataran’s arrest at an Olathe Walmart Feb. 14.

Teenagers Brian and Brandon Nataren told KMBC that they were stopping for food around 9 a.m. when an ICE vehicle nearly struck them. The brothers said the agents followed them to Walmart and confronted them when they parked their own vehicle.

They told KMBC that they were removed from the vehicle at gunpoint. Video has circulated widely on social media showing Brian Nateren, 19, being pinned to the parking lot pavement.

After being handcuffed, Brian Nataren said he was taken to municipal court and questioned before being released.

His account of the arrest to KMBC seems to differ on one point from Kreigshauser’s statement — the brothers say a vehicle driven by an ICE agent almost hit their vehicle.

After several attempts, the brothers could not be reached for comment.

Residents on edge

The arrival of federal immigration agents has caused heightened anxiety among residents in Johnson County.

Disapproval of immigration enforcement tactics have fueled a number of protests in the Kansas City area, including several student-led walkouts in the Olathe and Shawnee-Mission school districts.

Local protests began in response to the death of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE officer Jan. 7 in a Minneapolis neighborhood. Her death, and the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by an ICE agent weeks later, led to a nationwide outcry for change, and demonstrations followed.

In the past month, community reports began to surface online of immigration agents detaining and arresting people in the Kansas City metro. Organizers led more protests as immigration enforcement began affecting local families.

Workers at the Olathe Boys and Girls Club reported seeing uniformed ICE agents show up the morning of Feb. 13 outside the building on South Harrison Street.

A spokesperson for the organization told The Star that staff communicated “quickly and transparently” with parents about the agents’ presence and implemented a modified pick-up plan “to prioritize safety and secure dismissal procedures.”

A week later, a fight broke out at a student-led protest at Olathe Northwest High School between two groups of students who planned separate demonstrations. Several officers responded to College Boulevard and South Lone Elm Road, around 2 p.m. Feb. 20 after reports of a “physical altercation,” according to a police department spokesperson.

Initially, a 17-year-old male was taken into custody, police said in a press release Tuesday. After further investigation, an 18-year-old female, 15-year-old male and an additional 17-year-old male were taken into custody.

The 15-year-old male and 17-year-old male were cited and released from police custody, said Sgt. John Moncayo, a police spokesman. As of Tuesday, officers have contacted “all individuals involved in the physical disturbance.”

In a statement last week, Olathe Mayor John Bacon said he has heard from residents who are concerned about recent events involving ICE and the public.

Bacon said that Olathe police are not involved in immigration enforcement, and that officers work to “ensure that Olathe is a safe community where everyone is following the law.”

“Olathe is proud to be a diverse and welcoming community,” Bacon said.

Olathe officials respond to ICE, protests

Mike Butaud, Olathe police chief, said the department is not involved in immigration enforcement operations, and that municipal law enforcement is not authorized to enforce federal immigration laws.

The Olathe Police Department is aware of recent actions involving immigration, Butaud said. But the police department may not always be notified of ICE activity, depending on the scope of their operations, a department spokesman said.

“The Olathe Police Department is committed to keeping the community informed about matters that directly affect public safety,” Moncayo said in an email. “If there are any operations that occur within the city that create a direct or imminent public safety concern, we will notify the community while working with our federal partners to ensure accurate information is being shared.”

Olathe City Council member LeEtta Felter said she thinks local police should always be notified about federal enforcement for officer and public safety.

“This is not about immigration policy,” Felter said. “It is about basic public safety standards and professional interagency communication. Clear communication protects everyone — including the federal agents themselves.”

“Olathe’s strength has always been rooted in level-headedness and respect for the rule of law,” Felter said. “I encourage everyone to remain calm and avoid engaging directly in any federal enforcement activity. Intervening can escalate an already complex situation and put lives at risk.”

Felter said that if enforcement activity appears concerning, people should document from a safe distance and report concerns through proper channels, not in the heat of the moment.

Council member Matthew Schoonover said he advises people to know their rights when they encounter immigration officials and law enforcement.

“The Olathe Police Department has worked hard to develop strong relationships in the community,” Schoonover said. “I’m grateful they are not involved in immigration enforcement.”

“I encourage everyone — citizens and noncitizens — to understand their rights when confronted by immigration officials or law enforcement,” he said. “The ACLU is a great resource, but there are others.”

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(The Star’s Matt Kelly and Caroline Zimmerman contributed to this reporting.)

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