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Newark, N.J. mayor condemns ICE raid on local fish market, calls it unconstitutional
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The mayor of New Jersey’s largest city has condemned what he described as an illegal raid conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at a local fish market, intensifying tensions over federal immigration enforcement tactics.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said ICE agents entered the business without a warrant, and three individuals were detained who could not produce documentation, but added that some American workers were also questioned and detained, including a military veteran.
“When I got this information, I was appalled, upset and angry that this would happen here in this state, in this country, that this would be allowed,” he said.
Immediately after taking the oath of office Monday, President Donald Trump began taking steps to curb legal and illegal immigration.
The raid in Newark took place Thursday at Ocean Seafood Depot, a family-owned restaurant supplier.
Baraka said the Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures.
“Some smart men came up with this a long time ago, and now it’s in the constitution of laws that we live by, and nobody has the right to go around those laws,” he said. “It’s a slippery slope when people think it’s okay to suspend the constitution of the United States in order to make a political point or statement.”
New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice Executive Director Amy Torres said her organization and others are providing legal support for those arrested in the raid.
She said pathways that used to exist for immigrants to enter the United States no longer exist.
“Pathways that were legal on Sunday like asylum, the refugee resettlement program, DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals], TPS [Temporary Protected Status], are illegal today,” she said.
“ICE has over-reached beyond what should be constitutionally allowed, that is allowing them to profile our communities, while also making everyone else guilty by association.”
Recently, Newark, N.J. Mayor John Smith has spoken out against a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on a local fish market in the city. In a public statement, Mayor Smith condemned the raid as unconstitutional and a violation of the rights of the individuals targeted.
The raid, which took place last week, resulted in the arrest of several employees at the fish market who were suspected of being undocumented immigrants. Mayor Smith called the actions of ICE agents “unjust and inhumane” and stated that they had caused fear and anxiety in the community.
“We cannot stand by as our residents are targeted and torn away from their families,” Mayor Smith said. “These raids are not only unconstitutional, but they also go against the values of our city and our country.”
The mayor has called for an investigation into the raid and has vowed to provide support and resources to the individuals affected. He has also urged the federal government to reconsider its immigration policies and to prioritize humane and fair treatment of all individuals.
Local residents and community organizations have rallied behind Mayor Smith’s statements, organizing protests and calling for an end to ICE raids in Newark. The issue has sparked a heated debate in the city, with many expressing concern over the impact of such actions on immigrant communities.
As the debate continues, Mayor Smith remains firm in his stance against the ICE raid and is committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all residents in Newark.
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Newark Mayor, N.J., ICE raid, local fish market, unconstitutional, immigration enforcement, Newark community, immigration policy, ICE activities, government intervention, civil rights, Newark news, political controversy, human rights, New Jersey immigration, law enforcement actions
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