Former deportation officer finds himself on the other side helping immigrants

By: Katelyn Vue

Outlets: Sahan Journal

Published: March 5, 2026

Words: 1,801

Last Updated: 4 days, 11 hours ago

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Eric O’Denius entered the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal building in February to give a suitcase full of belongings to a detained immigrant he believed would be deported soon to their home country of Honduras, but staff refused to let him pass off the luggage.

Detained immigrants weren’t allowed to take personal belongings with them when they were flown out of state during Operation Metro Surge, the largest immigration enforcement operation in U.S. history.

“What …

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