US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has conducted a raid at a Newark, New Jersey, worksite detaining both undocumented migrants and American citizens, according to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
The mayor condemned the operation, alleging constitutional violations and the wrongful detention of a US military veteran.
The raid came amid President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown on illegal immigration, following a series of executive orders he signed after taking office on Monday.
The orders aimed to tighten immigration enforcement and penalise officials who resist federal policies.
Baraka, a staunch supporter of Newark’s “sanctuary” policies, criticized ICE for failing to produce a warrant during the raid.
“One of the detainees is a US military veteran who suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned,” Baraka said in a statement. “Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorised.”
An ICE spokesperson acknowledged that its agents may interact with US citizens during operations and may request identification to confirm their identity.
“Agents may encounter US citizens while conducting field work 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,” the spokesperson said, adding that ICE is investigating the incident.
Neither Baraka nor ICE disclosed the name of the business targeted in the raid.
In a post on social media platform X, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that the Trump administration had arrested 538 individuals on Thursday, describing all of them as “illegal immigrant criminals.”
She claimed that the detainees included members of a Venezuelan prison gang and individuals convicted of sex crimes, but did not provide further details.
Despite the administration’s stance, multiple studies by academics and policy think tanks have shown that immigrants do not commit crimes at a higher rate than native-born Americans. Research also suggests that undocumented immigrants similarly do not pose a greater criminal threat.
Baraka has long been an advocate for immigrant rights in Newark. In 2017, he signed an executive order affirming Newark’s sanctuary status and has been a vocal critic of Trump’s immigration policies.
Newark, the most populous city in New Jersey, is among many jurisdictions across the US that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
As of 2022, an estimated 44% of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country lived in states with sanctuary laws, with additional protections offered in sanctuary cities and counties outside these states.
Meanwhile, US media outlets reported that federal law enforcement and ICE agents arrested nearly 500 undocumented migrants wanted for outstanding crimes in sanctuary cities, including some from New York and New Jersey. These arrests reportedly took place earlier in the week on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Boluwatife Enome
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