ICE Agents Causing 'Widespread Fear' Near Schools, North Bergen Officials Say

NORTH BERGEN, NJ — Officials in North Bergen became the latest to criticize immigration agents for carrying out their operations in front of children and near schools this week.

The comments came after internet users posted photos and videos they claimed showed officials questioning people near a local school about their immigration status.

North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners issued a statement Monday night saying the agents had caused "widespread fear and outrage" with their actions, "including a verbal confrontation between residents and federal agents outside a local public school Monday morning."

“The ongoing presence of masked ICE agents in our community is continuing to cause widespread fear and outrage among North Bergen residents," officials said. "While our local government has extremely limited authority regarding federal law enforcement actions, we want residents to know that we share their concerns and are monitoring the situation closely."

They added, "The North Bergen school district is investigating the situation, and we want parents and all residents to know that we are taking this issue seriously and will take whatever legal action we can to protect our students, including denying access to school buildings without a warrant...We will remain vigilant to ensure that North Bergen is a safe place for everyone."

Video Of Crying Children

Officials in Teaneck and Harrison have also criticized immigration officials for actions in front of children this year.

Earlier this month, a video went viral of children crying and trying to prevent a man from being taken away by immigration agents in Harrison. The video shows the man forced into a car by agents as a woman holding a baby — as well as a little boy — try to pull him back.

Republican lawmakers recently said immigration officials have been arresting too many people with no criminal record, saying the operations have gone too far.

Federal officials have said that they are conducting their operations in order to remove criminals from the country, and have disputed characterizations of their actions. In February, they told Patch that they had not detained a student in Teaneck, despite rumors.

A local non-profit that chronicles ICE arrests in Hudson County reported increased enforcement efforts in the area.

A New York Times study this year showed that most detainees at Delaney Hall in Newark don't have criminal records, and CBS reported in July that a record number of people without a criminal record were detained as enforcement actions stepped up.

PRIOR REPORTING: Rise In ICE Arrests Addressed By Jersey City Mayor