ICE Chases Driver Through Blizzard-Clogged NJ Streets, Mayor Says

This article was updated with a statement from ICE on Feb. 26. Read our latest update here.

NEWARK, NJ — “Somebody could have been killed in Newark today.” That was the reaction from Mayor Ras Baraka after a car chase involving federal immigration officers ended with a crash on Wednesday – just days after a blizzard dumped more than two feet of snow on the city.

According to a statement from the mayor’s office, the chase began when ICE was conducting an investigation on Shanley Avenue involving a van they tried to pull over.

When the van fled, ICE agents pursued it. The chase ended with a crash involving multiple vehicles at Clinton Avenue and 10th Street, city officials said.

Authorities said one of the vehicles had three juvenile passengers inside: two 15-year-olds and a 12-year-old.

The suspect who fled from police was hospitalized with injuries, the mayor’s office said.

Newark police were not involved in the investigation and only responded to the accident, city officials said.

A Homeland Security spokesperson told Patch the incident took place while ICE agents were trying to arrest a man previously charged with receiving stolen property.

“He attempted to evade arrest by ramming his vehicle into federal law enforcement vehicles,” the spokesperson said (read more below).

According to Baraka, state law prohibits law enforcement from chasing vehicles unless the suspect poses an imminent threat.

The mayor noted that the chase took place as Newark continues to dig out from a historic blizzard that took place Sunday and Monday.

“Federal authorities should adhere to local laws regarding vehicle pursuits and exercise common sense,” Baraka said. “Based on the damage they are inflicting on our communities, ICE has no business engaging in chases at anytime, anywhere — but especially in densely populated areas, and on roads still being cleared from a significant snowstorm.”

“ICE cannot come into our city and recklessly put innocent people in harm's way while they try to apprehend their targets,” he added. “This is our city. These are our people. And this behavior is in keeping with a rabid, lawless pattern seen nationally.”

“Somebody could have been killed in Newark today,” Baraka said. “These agents have to adhere to local laws.”

A post on social media reportedly shows video footage from the scene (WARNING: contains profanity). Another video shows agents leading someone away from the crash site in handcuffs. Other footage shows a tense scene in the aftermath of the crash, including onlookers trading words with federal agents – and Newark police standing between them.

The mayor’s statement raised several questions from people on social media. As seen online:

• “Why was the van fleeing the scene?”
• “Was the pursuit proportionate to the threat?”
• “How’s the agent?”
• “Will tickets be issued or arrest be made?

Several people criticized the response from federal agents.

“This was more than poor judgment – it is a dangerous disregard for human life,” said a churchgoer who attends services on the block.

Others criticized the mayor for his statement about the crash.

“So what Ras Baraka is saying [is that] criminals should be able to flee ICE, and ICE shouldn’t be able to chase them, because the criminal may cause a wreck?” another person commented.

Recent data shows that 73 percent of current federal immigration detainees have no criminal convictions on their record, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).

HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUES STATEMENT

A Department of Homeland security spokesperson said the driver made a “dangerous attempt to evade arrest” in statement to Patch:

“On Feb. 25, ICE conducted a targeted operation to arrest Christian Oswaldo Guevara-Guerra, a criminal illegal alien previously charged with receiving stolen property. He attempted to evade arrest by ramming his vehicle into federal law enforcement vehicles. During his attempt to evade arrest, he struck multiple civilian vehicles – some of which had children in them. After a head-on collision with a civilian vehicle, Guevara was taken into ICE custody. Three children were taken to the hospital as a result of this illegal alien dangerously fleeing authorities.”

Federal authorities said Guevara-Guerra was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge in Newark in October 2017.

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