He has criticized the New Jersey mayor and other prominent Democrats Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) A raid on a business site they say led to the “arrest” of undocumented residents as well as a US citizen.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka criticized the operation, describing it as a “scandalous act” and a violation of international law Fourth Amendment After agents reportedly swooped in to raid a business “without presenting a warrant”.
Baraka said that one of the detainees is a former American soldier who “suffered humiliation because the legitimacy of his military documents was questioned.”
Newark Mayor J. A pool at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. (Tanya Breen/USA Today Network)
Trump Border Czar Tom Homan Reveals Ice Squads Have Already Arrested 'Public Safety Threats'
“This egregious act constitutes a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees ‘the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and property, against unreasonable searches and seizures…'” Baraka wrote in his article.
“Newark will not stand idly by while people are unlawfully terrorized,” Barrack said, adding that he is “ready and willing to defend and protect civil rights and human rights.”
It is not clear whether the US citizen in the Newark case was detained, as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson told Fox News that the US citizen was asked to provide identification.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may encounter U.S. citizens while conducting field work and may request identification of the individual, as was the case during a targeted enforcement operation at a work site today in Newark, New Jersey,” an ICE spokesperson told Fox News in regards to the Newark operation on Thursday. “This is an active investigation, and per ICE policy, we cannot discuss ongoing investigations.”
Exterior view of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have increased across the country this week President Donald Trump Trump is looking to crack down on illegal immigration, one of his main campaign promises. Tom Homan, Trump's “border czar,” said ICE agents will focus on “the worst first, public safety threats first, but no one is off the table. If they're in the country illegally, they're going to have a problem.”
Click here for more immigration coverage
New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim joined Baraka in condemning the raid.
“We are deeply concerned by news of today's ICE raid in Newark. Our offices have reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to demand answers,” the senators said in a joint statement.
“Actions like these instill fear in all of our communities – and our broken immigration system requires solutions, not fear tactics. We will continue to work with Mayor Baracca and other local officials to gather more information to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Jerseyans.” Dignity and rights are protected.”
Baraka, a progressive Democrat, has served as mayor of Newark since 2014 and is running for governor of New Jersey this year. He has called for “comprehensive reform” of the blue state and his campaign agenda includes reparations, sanctuary state laws, baby bonds and universal basic income.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., also criticized the raid. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., also criticized the raid in a statement.
She added: “Trump's attacks on immigrant communities are really hitting home and we will not back down.” “We will always fight for the dignity and rights of everyone in our region and across the country.”
In the early days of the Trump administration, ICE made more than 460 arrests Illegal immigrantsincluding those with a criminal history that includes sexual assault, domestic violence, drug and weapons offenses. Arrests occurred across the United States, including Illinois, Utah, California, Minnesota, New York, Florida and Maryland.
The forces arrested citizens of A large number of countries, including Afghanistan, Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Senegal, and Venezuela.
Fox News' Bill Melogen, Stephen Sorace and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
