SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested four farmworkers in Western Massachusetts, associated with Red Fire Farm, on March 20 during an ICE raid.

The detainments were part of a larger raid throughout the state resulting in the arrests of nearly 400 immigrants in the country illegally.

Western Mass News has more information after speaking with an immigration attorney about the case. The attorney we spoke with told us the men who were arrested had no prior criminal convictions and doesn’t believe ice had legal grounds to make the arrests.

“This was a terrifying experience and it’s not something anyone ever wants to have happen to their family.”

Two of the workers were detained after leaving their homes on their way to work that morning.

According to a GoFundMe created for the farmworkers who were arrested, the other two men were taken into custody after the Department of Homeland Security Investigations broke into their home, shattering the front door, without presenting a warrant.

The article goes onto say that family members were handcuffed and removed from their home, and ICE agents threatened to arrest them as well.

The two men, both having young children in the room as they were arrested.

“These are not gang members, they’re not terrorists.”

Western Mass News spoke with immigration attorney Matt Cameron who’s representing the four farmworkers in this case.

He tells us ice did not have a judicial warrant, making it illegal to enter the home and make an arrest.

“They broke into the house which is not something they’re allowed to do when they don’t have a judicial warrant but that is pretty typical especially right now of Ice enforcement.”