An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid took place in Newark, New Jersey, where several people were detained, including a U.S. military veteran, according to Mayor Ras Baraka. In a statement, Baraka said that ICE agents detained both U.S. citizens and undocumented immigrants during the raid, and they did not show a warrant when making the arrests.
Baraka condemned the actions, stating that it violated the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures. He said, “One of the detainees is a U.S. military veteran whose military documentation was questioned during the raid.” The mayor also promised to hold a press conference to stand up for civil and human rights.
Newark is known as a “sanctuary city,” meaning local officials usually don’t cooperate with federal immigration raids. Baraka emphasized that Newark would not allow people to be unfairly treated.
ICE confirmed that it conducted a “targeted enforcement operation” at a worksite in Newark. The agency acknowledged that during such operations, they may encounter U.S. citizens and ask for identification, as they did in this case. ICE did not provide further details, as the investigation is ongoing.
The raid took place at Ocean Seafood Depot, a business on Adams and Delancey streets. The owner of the business, who chose to remain anonymous, said about a dozen ICE agents arrived at the store around 11 a.m. and asked to see employee documentation. The owner tried to show his veteran’s card, but the agents didn’t accept it. He said, “In 26 years of business, I’ve never seen anything like this.”
According to the owner, three people were arrested during the raid. Surveillance footage from outside the business showed federal immigration agents detaining a man.
ICE reported that it has made 538 arrests as part of a larger effort to enforce stricter immigration policies under former President Donald Trump. Trump signed several executive orders aiming to increase immigration enforcement, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border and trying to end birthright citizenship. However, a federal judge temporarily blocked the birthright citizenship order, calling it unconstitutional because the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the U.S.
