MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Food pantry participation is down significantly in Hispanic communities in Milwaukee lately as people are afraid to stand outside and expose themselves to ICE, according to an area nonprofit.

Live, Laugh, Loaves MKE, created by MiquelaRae Artz, is a nonprofit dedicated to helping families facing food insecurity. On Sundays, they distribute food to those who need it near the intersection 54th and Oklahoma Ave. 

Artz says participation at their food distribution site on Milwaukee’s south side has dropped significantly as people don't feel safe standing outside in a line where ICE could pick them up.

“We have talked to a lot of people saying they won’t come out to get food from us because they’re scared because there might be violence or anything like that from ICE agents like they do in Minnesota,” Artz said. “I definitely very dislike it. I don’t like it at all that there’s violence and I wish people weren’t scared to come out because we have food that they might want and need.”

In a statement to CBS 58 last week, an ICE spokesperson wrote, "To protect operational security and ensure the safety of law enforcement personnel, ICE does not provide information regarding potential or ongoing enforcement actions.”

Last week, at the Wisconsin Homeland Security Council meeting in Madison, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said ICE is continuously operating in the city.

Norman did not answer a question about whether he had any information indicating ICE would be ramping up its operations in Milwaukee, instead saying police would continue to follow agreements already in place with federal agencies.

"We understand that we always have ICE in our city," Norman said. "And so, we work with our partners, making sure we talk to each other, collaboration."

The FBI's Milwaukee field office posted to social media Wednesday about its work with federal immigration officers in the arrest of a man the agency described as a Nicaraguan national who'd previously been charged with possession of child pornography.

A collection of faith leaders joined demonstrators Friday morning outside the Milwaukee field office for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) had several of its members speak outside the field office. Standing in the snow, they likened the idea of ramped up ICE operations to a natural disaster.

At the food distribution site, Artz says some people are picking up food for those too afraid to get in line. Just like those they serve, they also have fears about the situation.

“There are a lot of families not getting what they need,” Artz said.