2 Men Taken By ICE In Princeton Raid

PRINCETON, NJ — Two men were taken during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation on Thursday morning in Princeton, officials said.

The Municipality of Princeton and the Princeton Police Department shared that ICE was present in the community at around 8:30 a.m.

A crossing guard at Birch Avenue and John Street reported to officials that they saw two suspicious vehicles in the area.

"Several people approached the vehicles before they drove away, and the witnesses believed the individuals may have been affiliated with ICE," Princeton officials said.

The Princeton Police Department contacted ICE directly who confirmed their officers were present in Princeton on Thursday and that two people were taken into custody. ICE was unable to provide the reasons or any additional information, according to Princeton.

The municipality independently confirmed that two adult men were detained.

Resistencia en Accion, a grassroots migrant justice organization, said that one of the men was on his way to work and the other was on his way back from taking his children to school.

"My cousin was heading to work. He was no criminal. We’d always meet for coffee in the morning but he never came; he was taken in a van. He came here to find better opportunities, and now he’s been taken," said a relative of one of the men, according to Resistencia.

The migrant organization also reported at 11:30 a.m. that they got a report of possible ICE activity on Jefferson Road.

Resistencia en Accion sent out patrollers near Princeton High School, but did not see agents. Since then, they said they responded to several other calls later without seeing ICE.

"During this time of aggressive attacks on immigrant communities, we are witnessing ICE kidnapping more fathers, husbands, and workers in our Princeton community," said Ana Paola Pazmiño, Executive Director of Resistencia en Accion. "We will continue to stand up and protect our community with our Rapid Response volunteers, and we urge those with power to stand up and say no to ICE."

"Please know that ICE did not notify the Municipality of Princeton or the Princeton Police Department in advance of their presence or actions. The Princeton Police do not participate in federal immigration enforcement," Princeton officials said. "The Municipality shares the concerns many in our community feel in response to this and similar actions. We remain committed to keeping residents informed and will continue to share verified information as it becomes available."

Princeton Human Services said it will continue to provide support, resources, and information to Princeton’s underserved communities.

"The Mayor and Council remain committed to ensuring that Princeton is a welcoming community for all," officials noted.

Patch reached out to ICE for details but has not received a response.

ICE Sightings

On Monday in Somerset County, (ICE) operations were reported in Warren Township.

A video shared with Patch shows a white van surrounded by multiple vehicles and authorities seen running over to it on Hillcrest Boulevard just off Exit 40 of Interstate 78 in Warren Township on Monday.

On Sunday, an ICE raid was held in Morristown, where a Morristown High School senior was among a group of people taken, officials said.

The 18-year-old student, Juan Daniel Mendoza, was one of at least seven people who were rounded up near Speedwell Avenue Sunday morning, according to his family. Read More: High School Student Doing Laundry Among Those Detained In Morris Co. ICE Raid

• Related: ICE Surrounds Van In Somerset County, Video Shows
• Related: ICE Pulls People From Cars In Somerset County Raids, Officials Say
• Related: Lawmakers Advance 3 Bills To Limit ICE Powers In NJ Amid Nationwide Controversy

— With reporting by Jack Slocum

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