NEWS

Newark Mayor Says City Was ‘Unlawfully Terrorized’ During Immigration Enforcement Operation



cnn

A New Jersey mayor says his city was “illegally terrorized” by federal agents who detained several people Thursday during what Immigration and Customs Enforcement called “a targeted enforcement operation.”

Officers “raided” a local business and detained “undocumented residents, as well as citizens, without presenting a warrant,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement.

“One of those detained is a US military veteran who suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned,” he added.

CNN has not been able to independently verify the details of the mayor’s remarks. A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Thursday that a U.S. citizen was involved but declined to comment further on the active investigation.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may encounter U.S. citizens while conducting field work and may request identification to establish an individual’s identity, as was the case during a workplace operation today. in Newark, New Jersey,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The arrests come as the new Trump administration clamps down on irregular immigration, seeking to undo Biden-era ones that Trump believes led to an influx of undocumented immigrants. The White House announced this Friday the first deportation flights that left Texas, and more troops have been ordered to the United States-Mexico border.

On Wednesday, the Trump administration outlined its plans against so-called “sanctuary city” laws, threatening to prosecute state and local officials who resist the federal crackdown on undocumented immigration, according to a copy of the memo from the Trump administration. Department of Justice obtained by CNN.

A law enforcement source briefed on the investigation in Newark told CNN that Thursday’s action was in response to a report about unauthorized workers at a business.

The action was carried out by the Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security, and was not initiated by the Immigration Enforcement Service. and U.S. Customs Enforcement (ICE), the source said. It is not clear when what was happening at the business was reported to the HSI, they added.

During workplace law enforcement actions, HSI officers typically ask to see individuals’ identification to confirm they are authorized to work. CNN has reached out to HSI for comment on the action in Newark.

Baraka said his city will continue to defend the rights of its residents.

“This heinous act clearly violates the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees ‘the right of the people to be secure in their houses, papers and effects, from unreasonable searches and seizures,’” he said.

Baraka said he plans to hold a news conference to share more details about how he will “protect civil and human rights” in his city.

The owner of the fish market where the action occurred says he fears it will harm his business, according to CNN affiliate WCBS.

Speaking to the media outlet, the owner of the Ocean Seafood Depot said that approximately a dozen agents arrived at the market around 11 a.m. Thursday and asked to see his employees’ paperwork.

Three people were detained, he told WCBS.

“A couple of the guys couldn’t show their ID,” the owner said. “Twenty-six years in business; “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

When asked if the incident would deter his other employees from coming to work on Friday, he said: “Yes, exactly.”

“That doesn’t help my business, obviously, or any other business.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNN’s Karina Tsui contributed to this story.

Source link

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button