ICE Raids a Newark Worksite and Arrests US Citizens and Undocumented Migrants, Including Veterans

A controversial raid by EICE officers in Newark resulted in the detention of US citizens and unauthorized migrants, including a military veteran.

According to Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials raided a worksite in the city and detained both American citizens and undocumented workers. 

Alleging constitutional infractions and the unlawful imprisonment of a US service veteran, the mayor denounced the operation.

Following a number of executive orders he signed after taking office on Monday, President Donald Trump launched a reinvigorated campaign against illegal immigration at the same time as the raid. 

In addition to punishing officials who oppose federal policies, the directives sought to strengthen immigration enforcement. 

Baraka, who is a strong advocate of Newark’s “sanctuary” policy, chastised ICE for the raid’s lack of a warrant. 

“A US military veteran who endured the humiliation of having the validity of his military records questioned is among the detainees,” Baraka said in a statement. “Newark will not allow individuals to be unlawfully terrorized in silence.” 

During operations, ICE officers may come into contact with US residents and ask for identification to verify their identity, according to an ICE representative. 

“As was the case during a targeted enforcement operation at a worksite today in Newark, agents may encounter US citizens while conducting field work and may request identification to establish an individual’s identity,” the spokesman stated, adding that ICE is looking into the situation. 

ICE and Baraka did not reveal the name of the company that was the focus of the operation. 

The Trump administration detained 538 people Thursday, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who posted on social media site X, calling all of them “illegal immigrant criminals.” 

She did not elaborate, but said the captives included those convicted of sexual offenses and members of a prison gang in Venezuela. 

Notwithstanding the administration’s position, several studies conducted by scholars and policy think tanks have demonstrated that the incidence of criminal activity among immigrants is not higher than that of native-born Americans. Similarly, research indicates that unauthorized immigrants do not represent a bigger criminal hazard. 

In Newark, Baraka has long been an immigrant rights activist. A strong opponent of Trump’s immigration policy, he issued an executive order in 2017 confirming Newark’s sanctuary status.

Newark, New Jersey’s largest city, is one of many US jurisdictions that restrict collaboration with federal immigration officials. 

Approximately 44% of the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants resided in states with sanctuary laws as of 2022; further protections are provided in sanctuary counties and towns outside of these states. 

According to US media, ICE and federal law enforcement detained about 500 undocumented migrants, some of them were from New York and New Jersey, who were wanted for unresolved offenses in sanctuary cities. It has been stated that these arrests occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.