KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – Immigration enforcement efforts in western Kansas have left numerous communities on edge, with community activists estimating about 50 people have been taken into custody in Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal.
Agents told leaders in Dodge City they are now leaving that location, according to the report.
Community effort grows in the West Bottoms
A community effort is growing in the West Bottoms neighborhood of Kansas City to help in western Kansas. A truck carrying food is set to leave the area for families in western Kansas afraid to leave their homes, a reality area activists say is getting worse.
Edgar Galicia, executive director for Central Avenue Betterment Association, organized the food drive. He said the effort is targeting Liberal and Dodge City, where several meat packaging companies and corporations have facilities, and where a lot of migrants and Latino families live and work.
Many of them are now afraid to leave their homes due to the fear of an increased presence of immigration officers.
Galicia said one of the biggest challenges is that there is no due process from the beginning.
Witnesses in Garden City saw individuals escorted onto a plane by ICE agents.
Beef industry concerns raised
The enforcement efforts have pulled politicians into the conversation, along with the Kansas Livestock Association, which released a statement saying the efforts have had “a massive chilling effect on workers” and could have a major impact on the entire beef industry.
The association said thousands of feed cattle are in limbo, resulting in millions of dollars lost. The group said impacts could also hit dairy, feed and grain companies, transportation and other sectors.
State Rep. Megan Steele called concerns over federal immigration enforcement “disgusting,” saying she fully supports current ICE operations.
Galicia said, “I know humanity will always win. It has been. It’s very painful. Very, very painful.” He said, “Right now, the people in Western Kansas are hurting, are suffering, and we need to find ways to help them.”
A joint statement from Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal, Kansas, said officers there were not made aware of the presence of federal agents prior to their arrival.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Dining and Cooking