The mayor of Newark, N.J. slammed the “egregious” raid by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who, he says, raided a local establishment and detained undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens.
Mayor Ras Baraka said ICE performed the Thursday raid without a warrant and the military veteran who was detained “suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned.”
Baraka added the raid was a “plain violation” of the Fourth Amendment.
“Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized,” Baraka said in a statement on Thursday. “I will be holding a press conference in alliance with partners ready and willing to defend and protect civil and human rights.”
An ICE spokesperson told The Hill in an emailed statement that its agents “may encounter U.S. citizens while conducting fieldwork and may request identification to establish an individual’s identity as was the case during a targeted enforcement operation at a worksite today in Newark, New Jersey.”
“This is an active investigation, and, per ICE policy, we cannot discuss ongoing investigations,” the spokesperson added.
On Tuesday, President Trump’s administration permitted ICE to carry out arrests in churches and schools, revoking a guideline that barred arrest in “sensitive” areas.
Trump has repeatedly said on the campaign trail that he would perform mass deportations of immigrants who are in the country illegally. Since taking office on Monday, he has signed a number of executive orders intended to curb the influx of immigrants on the southern border.
Back in July 2017, Baraka signed a sanctuary city executive order in an effort to protect the city’s undocumented immigrants from Trump’s immigration policies.
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), whose district includes Newark, said her office has reached out to the Department of Homeland (DHS) for more information about the raid and “how it was allowed that ICE come in.”
“Already, Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities are hitting home and we will not back down,” McIver, who represents New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, said in Thursday’s statement, adding that she was in touch with Baraka along with local and federal officials.
In a joint statement Thursday night, Democratic New Jersey Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim expressed “concern” over new of the raid.
“We are deeply concerned about the news of an ICE raid in Newark today. Our offices have reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to demand answers,” they wrote.
“Actions like this one sow fear in all of our communities — and our broken immigration system requires solutions, not fear tactics. We will continue to work with Mayor Baraka and other local officials to gather more information to ensure all New Jerseyans are safe and their dignity and rights are protected.”
Updated at 10:57 p.m. EST.
