Social media flurry about illegal immigrants in Marion turns up false

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office reports at least a dozen calls over a three-day period for suspicious white buses delivering “unamerican men” to the Relax Inn, located at 5331 E. Silver Springs Blvd. March 31, 2024 [Jennifer Hunt Murty]

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Posted April 2, 2024 | By Jennifer Hunt Murty
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Over the past week, social media has seen a flurry of activity with pictures of white buses allegedly delivering illegal immigrants to Marion County.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office reports at least a dozen calls over a three-day period for suspicious white buses delivering “unamerican men” to the Relax Inn, located at 5331 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

On March 31, the “Gazette” came upon the motel when a white bus with a black stripe painted down it and the initials “JNT” painted on the front was parked there and dozens of Spanish-speaking individuals were coming out and getting onboard.

Affixed to the side of the bus were notices about the “Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act,” information about 911, worker’s comp insurance, the minimum federal wage, and warnings about pesticides and employee rights.

The bus driver did not speak English, but called his “boss,” Jacob Trinidad of JNT Harvesting, on his cell phone and handed the phone to the “Gazette” representative.

Trinidad said local authorities had already come to the motel and were provided work visas and that the Mexican migrant workers were there to harvest blueberries.

Lt. Paul Bloom with the MCSO confirmed that was the case to the “Gazette” by email.

“It is true, these are migrant farm workers that travel through every year to harvest all of the watermelons, strawberries and other fresh fruits we enjoy. As a lifelong resident of Marion County, I remember seeing them come through when I was a child here. Having worked patrol, I don’t recall ever having an issue with these folks. Typically, they are very reclusive and respectful if you come across them,” Bloom wrote.

The ”Gazette” asked Bloom if there were any verified reports of illegal immigrants being bussed into Marion and he said no.