Kent Police issued a statement that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted an operation Oct. 16 on the East Hill, not U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“It has come to our attention that there are rumors circulating in the community about a possible immigration operation at the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship on the East Hill in Kent,” according to an Oct. 17 Kent Police news release. “Those rumors are not correct. The facts are that it was a DEA operation.”

The church is at 19300 108th Ave. SE. Witnesses reported as many as eight unmarked white vehicles in the church’s parking lot early in the morning Oct. 16.

“I can confirm it was not ICE and KPD was not involved,” said Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla in an Oct. 17 email to the Kent Reporter. “This is

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