Newark Mayor Ras Baraka criticized an immigration raid in the city, claiming it was conducted without a warrant and resulted in the detention of both undocumented residents and citizens.

Baraka revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeted a local establishment during the raid. "Newark will not stand idly by while people are unlawfully terrorized," he stated in a written announcement.

The mayor’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in major cities across the United States, as ICE prepares for raids promised by Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan. Homan has emphasized the administration’s commitment to "mass deportations" and indicated that sanctuary cities—localities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement—are among the first targets.

ICE reported 538 arrests in a Thursday update but did not provide specific details on the timing or locations of these actions when asked by The Guardian.


Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced in a post on X that 538 "illegal immigrant criminals" had been arrested and "hundreds" deported using military aircraft.

"The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept," Leavitt declared.

While the number of arrests is not unusual—ICE averaged over 450 arrests daily under President Joe Biden in 2023—the agency's actions have garnered heightened scrutiny due to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies. Since taking office, Trump has issued a wave of executive orders and policy changes, including granting immigration officers the authority to conduct enforcement at sensitive locations such as schools and churches.

ICE has declined to provide details regarding the date and location of its recent New Jersey raid. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka revealed that among those detained was a U.S. military veteran, who was reportedly subjected to having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned by ICE officers.

“This egregious act blatantly violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees ‘the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,’” Baraka said.

ICE acknowledged the operation in Newark, stating, "The agency 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."

The raids and their impact on both citizens and non-citizens have sparked outrage among New Jersey lawmakers. U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman condemned the actions, calling them "a disgrace" and comparing them to tactics used by authoritarian regimes. Assemblywoman LaMonica McIver added, “Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities are hitting home, and we will not back down.”

The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice has responded by organizing "Know Your Rights" workshops to educate residents about their legal protections when facing immigration enforcement.

Similar efforts are underway in other cities across the U.S. In Chicago, which has seen an influx of over 50,000 migrants, primarily from Venezuela, in the past two years, Mayor Brandon Johnson stated he is collaborating with community groups to inform residents of their rights.

This intensifying crackdown underscores the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration and has raised broader concerns about constitutional rights and the treatment of vulnerable populations.