In response to action taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Newark last week, Democratic congress members said they are demanding answers.
U.S. Reps. LaMonica McIver and Rob Menendez joined a letter — along with other Democratic colleagues — condemning the raid at a fish market in the city and asking the Department of Homeland Security provide the circumstances surrounding the raid and the well-being of the people involved.
“Folks are extremely scared,” McIver said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “I’ve spent the last couple of days answering a ton of questions. My office has seen an influx of questions regarding immigration, regarding ICE trying to find out more information.
“I’ve heard from school principals about how students are scared to death to even walk home,” she said. “[They’re] making sure that they have their green card, their documentation with them walking because they’re scared that they’ll get stopped by ICE. Or how about when they get home, parents are not there? There has been just a large amount of concern.”
A spokesperson for the ICE Newark field office confirmed three undocumented immigrants were detained at a Newark business was part of an ongoing investigation, calling it a “routine” and “pre-planned” event. According to ICE, two individuals were served notices to appear in court with bond set. One individual was detained due to a visa waiver overstay and has been placed in removal proceedings. No citizens or U.S. military veterans were detained, ICE said.
“It would have been nice if they would have told us that,” said McIver. “Or at least responded back to the inquiries from my office. But they didn’t. We’re just getting information via their Twitter or Instagram social media that they’re putting out.
“Tell us about it. You know, tell the folks who represent these communities so that they can talk to their communities properly,” she said. “That’s just basic professionalism. We’ve heard reports that the Trump administration have told these departments not to respond to us, not to answer questions. That is unprofessional.”
In the letter to the Department of Homeland Security McIver asked about the basis of the raid, whether a warrant was involved, the total number of individuals questioned and detained and on what grounds.
