Newark’s mayor is pushing back following an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid Thursday in the city.

Reports of crackdowns on undocumented immigrants have come in throughout the country, under new executive orders and directives from the Trump administration.

On Jan. 23, Mayor Ras Baraka put out a strongly worded statement regarding the situation.

“Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided a local establishment in the City of Newark, detaining undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant,” said Baraka. “One of the detainees is a U.S. military veteran who suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned.

“This egregious act is in plain violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees ‘the right of the people be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures …’”

Baraka said that Newark will not stand by idly while people are being “unlawfully terrorized.”

“I will be holding a press conference in alliance with partners ready and willing to defend and protect civil and human rights,” he said. “Details to come.”

That information came late Thursday night.

The mayor’s office announced a Friday morning press conference in Newark, along with community leaders, immigration advocates and other stakeholders.

MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA’S STATEMENT ON ICE RAID ON NEWARK BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT

Read here: https://t.co/kUpEQqOAV4 pic.twitter.com/zCR9fKfe52

— City of Newark (@CityofNewarkNJ) January 23, 2025

‘We cannot discuss ongoing investigations’

U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-10th District, who represents Newark, echoed Baraka’s sentiments.

“Without a warrant, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a raid on a Newark business today. My office has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to get answers on exactly what happened, and how it was allowed that ICE came in – without warrant and without justification – to detain not only immigrants, but citizens and even a veteran of our nation’s military,” said McIver in a Jan. 23 statement.

“Already, Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities are hitting home and we will not back down,” she continued. “I am in contact with Mayor Baraka, and other local and federal officials as more unfolds. We will always fight for the dignity and rights of everyone in our district and across the country.”

U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, D-NJ, and Andy Kim, D-NJ, also issued a joint statement Thursday, saying, “We will continue to work with Mayor Baraka and other local officials to gather more information to ensure all New Jerseyans are safe and their dignity and rights are protected.”

In response to an inquiry about the situation, NJBIZ received the following response from an ICE spokesperson.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may encounter U.S. citizens while conducting field work and may request identification to establish an individual’s identity as was the case during a targeted enforcement operation at a worksite today in Newark, New Jersey,” the spokesperson told NJBIZ. “This is an active investigation and, per ICE policy, we cannot discuss ongoing investigations.”

Stay with NJBIZ for further details on this developing story.