Several Taken Into ICE Custody Near Asbury Park Town Hall This Week

ASBURY PARK, NJ — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took several people into custody this week in Asbury Park, according to police in that city.

People were picked up by ICE Tuesday and Wednesday on Main Street in Asbury Park, across from the post office and very near to town hall, according to the Asbury Park Press, which has video of the arrests.

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Asbury Park Police Director John Hayes said his police department did not participate in the arrests.

"The Asbury Park Police Department is aware of the incident that occurred near City Hall and I understand why it has alarmed so many in our community," Hayes said Friday. "I want to be clear: our officers were not involved in this incident and had no advance knowledge that it was going to occur."

"Whether any federal action was lawful is not a determination local law enforcement can make. That is a question for the courts," he said. "What I can tell you is this: under the Attorney General's Immigrant Trust Directive, the Asbury Park Police Department does not assist ICE in the enforcement of federal civil immigration law, including the execution of immigration administrative warrants and arrests. Our officers do not participate in federal immigration enforcement actions, and they cannot interfere with them either."