As World-Herald reporters document the latest updates on immigration enforcement in Nebraska, here's a Q&A on what's happened in recent weeks and where things stand.
What happened last month at Glenn Valley Foods?
Investigating identity fraud, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tuesday, June 10. With a list of 107 people ICE agents wanted to screen, they arrived at the facility at 9 a.m. They arrested 76 people who ICE says are living in the country illegally.
After the raid, detainees were initially taken to an ICE field office near Eppley Airfield.
Where are the detainees now?
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From the ICE facility in Omaha, agents transported at least 63 detainees to the Lincoln County Detention Center in North Platte.
Thirteen women about their experience as detainees said they have been treated well and have their basic needs met. As of July 2, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office estimated that about 50 of those detainees remained in their custody.They said 14 had been released — three were released on bail, and 11 were transferred back into ICE custody.
Three people detained in the raid have been :
1. Marvin Aleman Zepeda was charged for assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer or employee.
2. Guadalupe Cabrera Mejia was charged with false representation of a Social Security number to become employed at the plant.
3. Francisco Meza-Carmona was charged with reentry of a removed alien after having been convicted of a felony. Court documents indicate that Meza-Carmona entered the country illegally after previously being deported twice. In 2009, he was convicted of criminal threat, a felony in Ford County, Kansas.
Of the remaining people arrested on June 10, some have been released, some face deportation and some have already been deported.
On June 19, ICE spokesperson Tanya Roman said three people had "voluntarily returned to Mexico," and three Guatemalan nationals were transferred to a facility in Louisiana in preparation for deportation.
Who did ICE arrest at Glenn Valley Foods?
A World-Herald investigation found that fewer than 20 of the 76 people taken on June 10 had been charged with crimes in federal or Nebraska courts. Most of those who had criminal records were charged only with minor traffic infractions or misdemeanors.
The World-Herald searched federal and Nebraska databases for court records of the 66 detainees whose identities were known. Of the 66, nine had criminal convictions prior to the raid.
One person had been charged with felony criminal threat in Kansas in 2009. One woman from Mexico was fined $100 for misdemeanor shoplifting in 1996. A 26-year-old man from Mexico has been convicted of traffic-related misdemeanors and a DUI in 2022. He also has three open cases involving subsequent alleged DUIs.
The remaining six people with criminal histories had minor traffic infractions and misdemeanors.
What happens next for the detainees?
HOPE-Esperanza, a North Platte organization that provides services to immigrants in the community, is working with detainees to help them understand their options and communicate with local officials. HOPE-Esperanza staff said all of the detainees in Lincoln County are working with attorneys. CIRA is providing legal services to most of them.
The women interviewed by The World-Herald said they are awaiting further hearings and hoping for the opportunity to post bail.
What's happening with the detainees' families?
For family members affected by the ICE raid, they .
The Heartland Workers Center in Omaha helped track down and ensure the safety of the children of many of the detainees.
Lina Traslaviña Stover, executive director for Heartland Workers Center, said many of those taken were the breadwinners of their families, causing young adults to become the heads of their households when their parents were detained.
Several mothers interviewed by The World-Herald said their children are struggling emotionally during their parents' detainment.
What happened with the alleged MS-13 gang members?
ICE arrested two alleged gang members of MS-13 in the Omaha area last week after a Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy pulled over one of them on July 6, which.
The deputy pulled over Rene Saul Escobar Ochoa, 30, on July 6 on Interstate 80 near the 42nd Street exit for merging without using a turn signal.
The Sheriff’s Office said the deputy ” during the traffic stop and ran Escobar Ochoa through a federal database that showed he was on an MS-13 watchlist.
The Sheriff's Office relayed the information to the Nebraska State Patrol and federal law enforcement. The deputy had to let Escobar Ochoa go because he didn't have the legal authority to arrest him.
That ultimately led to ICE agents arresting Escobar Ochoa in North Omaha and Melvin Varela Perez, 50, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Wednesday.
Escobar Ochoa is wanted in El Salvador for allegedly giving orders to fellow gang members to commit a variety of crimes, including multiple homicides, extortion, imprisonment and drug trafficking.
Described as an "MS-13 kingpin," federal authorities say that Varela Perez is one of the 100 most-wanted fugitives in El Salvador and that he’s wanted in that country on charges of aggravated homicide of five victims, attempted aggravated homicide, deprivation of liberty and terrorist organization affiliation.Varela Perez admitted to being an MS-13 gang member and crossing the border illegally in September 2016, according to court documents obtained by The World-Herald.
ICE said both Salvadorian nationals are in the country illegally and are coordinating with El Salvadoran authorities to deport them.
What happened to Fernando’s?
on Monday due to a staffing shortage after receiving a request for worker documentation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The subpoena from Homeland Security resulted in “the departure of some valued employees.” In response to comments left on the Facebook page, the restaurant said that it was not raided and that no employees were arrested. “For anyone that had provided us documents that did not pass the subpoena, by law we were forced to terminate their employment.”
, but their location at 75th and Pacific Streets remains closed.
What's next for immigration enforcement in Nebraska?
In a statement to The World-Herald, a White House spokesperson said by removing dangerous, violent criminal illegal aliens from American communities and targeting the sanctuary cities that provide safe harbor to criminal aliens."
This has been the largest ICE raid in Nebraska since the Trump administration has taken office. With a goal to round up dangerous individuals, The World-Herald found that in Nebraska before the raid.
Looking to read more on the ICE raid at Glenn Valley or to stay updated on the status of immigration enforcement in Nebraska? Click the hyperlinks throughout the story to dive deeper into the issue.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2025

Layla, the dog runs around while outside while at the Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha on Friday, July 7, 2025. Nebraska Humane Society is doing special pricing on pets to help find room for needy animals from Texas flooding.

People watch fireworks go off in the sky during the annual firework show in Ralston on Thursday, July 3, 2025.

Theodore the dog shakes water off after jumping into a pool at Omaha Dog Bar, 1231 S 14th St., in Omaha on Thursday, July 3, 2025.

From left, Noah Winslow, 10, Isaiah King and Lamarus Secret fish at Benson Park in Omaha on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

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Bandits' Delanie Wisz (97) scores ahead of the tag by Talons' Sharlize Palacios (13) during the eighth innning during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Bandits' Erin Coffel (21) is called out after being tagged by Talons' Hannah Flippen (19) trying to steal duing the seventh inning during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Talons' Sierra Sacco (21) celebrates tying the game on a home run in the bottom of the seventh inning during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Bandits' Bella Dayton (6) can't catcht his home run by Talons' Jadelyn Allchin (90) during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Talons' Hannah Flippen (19) celebrates a third-inning home run during an Athletes Unlimited Softball League game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.

A crash near the 14th Street closed westbound I480 in Omaha on Friday, July 11, 2025.