The Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Ras Baraka has disclosed that US immigration agents raided business establishments in the city on Thursday and detained undocumented migrants as well as citizens, one of the first such reported raids following President Donald Trump’s ordered crackdown on illegal migration since his return to office.
In a statement, Baraka, a vocal Trump critic, said the ICE agents did not produce a warrant before detaining “undocumented residents as well as citizens”.
He added that a US military veteran was among those detained.
“One of the detainees is a US military veteran who suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned,” the mayor said.
Newark is a “sanctuary” city favoured by migrants.
Following his January 20 return to the White House, President Trump had signed a flurry of executive orders, including one pushing for mass deportation of illegal aliens, vowing to punish any official who resists the crackdown.
Baraka, who did not name the business raided, said the sweeping detention of residents, including citizens, violates the citizens’ rights under the U.S. Constitution.
“Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorised,” he said.
US media outlets reported that nearly 500 undocumented migrants wanted for outstanding crimes in sanctuary cities, including some from New York and New Jersey, were arrested in raids conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday.