Dems rail against ‘egregious’ ICE raid after military veteran questioned
New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka and other leading Democrats have strongly criticized an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on a worksite that resulted in the detention of undocumented residents as well as a U.S. citizen. The incident, which took place in Newark, has sparked outrage and raised concerns about civil rights violations.
Baraka described the operation as an “egregious act” and a violation of the Fourth Amendment, stating that ICE agents conducted the raid without producing a warrant. He highlighted the case of a U.S. military veteran who was detained and had his military documentation questioned, calling it a “disgraceful” act that undermines the rights of individuals.
The mayor emphasized that Newark will not tolerate such unlawful actions and is prepared to defend and protect civil and human rights. He condemned the ICE raid as a form of unlawful intimidation and expressed his readiness to take a stand against such actions.
While it is unclear whether the U.S. citizen in question was taken into custody, an ICE spokesperson stated that the individual was asked to provide identification. The spokesperson added that ICE agents may encounter U.S. citizens during their operations and may request identification to verify their identity.
ICE raids have been on the rise across the country as President Donald Trump continues to tighten immigration enforcement. Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, has emphasized that ICE agents will prioritize public safety threats but will not hesitate to take action against individuals who are in the country illegally.
New Jersey senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim joined Mayor Baraka in condemning the raid, expressing concerns about the impact of such actions on communities and calling for solutions to address the broken immigration system. Rep. LaMonica McIver also criticized the raid, vowing to fight for the dignity and rights of all individuals in her district and beyond.
As ICE continues its enforcement efforts, arrests have been made across the U.S., targeting individuals with criminal histories that include serious offenses such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and drug and weapons crimes. The arrests have affected nationals from various countries, highlighting the diversity of those impacted by immigration enforcement actions.
In the face of escalating ICE raids, Mayor Baraka and other Democrats are standing firm in their commitment to protect the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status. The incident in Newark serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by immigrant communities and the need for comprehensive immigration reform to address these issues.
