Mason City Police are addressing public concerns after reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, activity in Cerro Gordo County. In a press release yesterday (1/15/26), Police Chief Mike McKelvey said the department began receiving inquiries following social media posts claiming people were being detained by the Federal Immigration Enforcement Agency. McKelvey emphasized that no local law enforcement agencies—including Mason City Police, the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Clear Lake Police, or the Iowa State Patrol—were notified of, or assisted with any ICE activity over the past 24 hours.
McKelvey confirmed that six individuals in three vehicles claiming to be with the agency stopped at the Cerro Gordo Law Enforcement Center Wednesday (1/14/26) afternoon to ask about inmates with immigration detainers. Officials say there were none, and no one was taken into custody.
Amid heightened tensions following recent events in Minneapolis, including protests and school walkouts, McKelvey encouraged residents to contact local law enforcement if they need help verifying the legitimacy of someone claiming to be an officer.
Full press release can be found here: 01-15-26-press-release-concerning-ice-activity-in-cg-county
