Immigration Crackdown: ICE Raids New Jersey Businesses, Detains Migrants and Citizens

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided businesses in Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday, detaining undocumented residents and U.S. citizens, including a military veteran, according to Mayor Ras Baraka. The raid, conducted in New Jersey’s largest city known for its “sanctuary” policies, follows former President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting illegal immigration. These orders, issued early in his presidency, aimed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and penalize officials who resist enforcement. Mayor Baraka stated that ICE agents failed to present a warrant during the raid and that the rights of those detained, including a U.S. veteran whose military documentation was questioned, were violated. “Newark will not stand idly by while people are unlawfully terrorized,” he declared, emphasizing the city’s commitment to protecting residents. The White House and ICE have not commented on the incident, and the name of the raided business was not disclosed. Baraka, who signed an executive order solidifying Newark’s sanctuary status in 2017, remains a vocal critic of Trump’s immigration policies. Reports indicate that federal law enforcement and ICE agents have arrested nearly 500 undocumented migrants with outstanding crimes in sanctuary cities, including New York and New Jersey, as part of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown.