NEWARK, NJ — Another protest recently took place in Newark to support immigrants, adding to a growing list of anti-ICE activity in New Jersey's largest city.
The latest demonstration happened Nov. 7 in the Ironbound neighborhood, which has a high population of immigrant residents.
Demonstrators gathered on Lafayette Street and marched down the roadway. Some carried signs that read "No Wars, No ICE, No Kings!" and bore the names of detainees who have died while in ICE custody.
According to a statement from organizers, the rally was held to "call for an immediate stop to ICE operations in Newark" and to demand that state and local officials "do more to support endangered immigrant communities."
"In recent weeks, ICE has accelerated its deportation campaign against Newark immigrants, taking dozens of neighbors from work vans, streetcorners, and local businesses in Ironbound and surrounding communities," organizers said. "This has caused mass panic, trauma and educational and economic disruption, as many residents do not feel safe leaving their homes."
"At the same time, there is a notable lack of state response that meets the high detention rates that have been happening this last year," organizers continued.
According to a recent report from TRAC, a nonprofit research project that tracks immigration data, there were 208,726 people with representation in pending immigration court cases in New Jersey as of August 2026. Only 78,116 were represented by a lawyer – roughly 37 percent.
The Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative, with $20 million state funding promised by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, is a good start, activists said – but there is room for improvement.
According to community activists, the program lacks sufficient bilingual, federally-barred lawyers and should implement proactive approaches like community KYR/family preparation workshops, habeas corpus workshops, efficiencies like visiting multiple detainees per visit, and quick turnovers between intake and first consultation.
Karl Schwartz, a local librarian who is a member of Labor Eyes on ICE, said he's been "appalled" at the federal immigration activity that has been taking place in Newark.
"People are staying home, the library is quiet, businesses are empty, and children are kept out of school because so many people fear they'll get kidnapped by masked agents if they step outside," Schwartz said.
"We are here to reaffirm that ICE is not welcome in New Jersey, that we want ICE out of Ironbound and all communities," immigration activist Li Adorno urged.
The Ironbound Families March was endorsed by the following organizations: New Labor; Cosecha; Newark Water Coalition; Newark Library Workers; Newark Teachers Union; Professional Staff Congress (PSC/CUNY); BAMN (By Any Means Necessary); Rutgers Adjunct Union, Union of Rutgers Administrators-AFT; North Jersey DSA.
ICE PROTESTS IN NEWARK
Last week's protest in the Ironbound adds to a growing list of anti-ICE activity that has been taking place in Newark over the past few months.
Much of the national attention has been focused on clashes between protesters, ICE agents, police and staff at Delaney Hall, a privately owned immigration detention center that was the first such facility reopened during president Donald Trump's second term.
Other protests and actions from activists have taken place without arrests – or as much news coverage.
Earlier this month, a vigil to remember people who died while in ICE custody took place outside Delaney Hall. The gathering was held in recognition of Día de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead.
In October, a group of politically active seniors showed up for a rally outside Delaney Hall, calling for due process for immigrants and better conditions for detainees and visitors.
The attendees included former New Jersey Sen. Loretta Weinberg, 91, who said that many seniors like herself want the United States to "do a 350-degree turn and stand up for that better life for all."
"To live in a community of so many people of my age still feeling they can make the world better is a privilege," Weinberg said.
Meanwhile, Veterans For Peace has paid for a billboard near Doremus Avenue and Raymond Boulevard, which reads: "Abolish ICE" and encourages people to call their representative in Congress. The billboard will be up until Dec. 20.
"This billboard sends a message from military veterans and other New Jersey residents that Delaney Hall detention camp on Doremus Avenue in Newark and all other ICE detention camps must be shut down and ICE abolished," said Paula Rogovin, co-founder of the Teaneck Peace and Justice Vigil.
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NATIONAL CRACKDOWN
As part of his campaign platform in 2024, President Donald Trump vowed to immediately launch a nationwide immigration crackdown as soon as he was elected.
"Our southern border is overrun by cartels, criminal gangs, known terrorists, human traffickers, smugglers, unvetted military-age males from foreign adversaries, and illicit narcotics that harm Americans," Trump declared.
Homeland Security officials, including Secretary Markwayne Mullin, have insisted that ICE is going after some of the "worst of the worst" criminals in the nation.
"Every day, the patriots of ICE are working to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country," he said Thursday, sharing a list of recent arrests that have been taking place across the U.S.
Advocates and family members of ICE detainees have pushed back against the claim that most of them are "criminals," however.
Earlier this year, TRAC reported that out of 60,311 people held in ICE detention across the nation, about 70.8 percent had no criminal conviction before being apprehended – and many of those who do were convicted only of minor offenses such as traffic violations.
Large-scale ICE raids also took place under former President Joe Biden's watch, including in New Jersey.
Before Trump took office for his second term, hundreds of people were being arrested and deported from the ICE office in Newark every month under the Biden administration.
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