Newark Police: ‘We’re Not Setting Up Roadblocks To Catch Undocumented Immigrants’

NEWARK, NJ — As rumors swell about possible immigration-related raids in Newark, local authorities are telling city residents that a recent police presence in the East Ward isn’t due to immigration enforcement efforts.

The Newark Department of Public Safety issued a Thursday advisory, stating that city police are not performing immigration enforcement or conducting roadblocks to detain undocumented immigrants.

“Following a recent road safety operation by police involving check points in the East Ward, a growing concern arose among some individuals and groups that they could be detained for immigration purposes,” city officials stated. “Newark police officers are not conducting any operations aimed at checking the immigration status of any individual or group.”

The Newark Police Department routinely conducts road safety checkpoints throughout the city to address speeders and other traffic violations, officials added.

NEW JERSEY ICE ARRESTS

In December, authorities with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Newark office arrested 82 “priority enforcement targets” throughout New Jersey during a massive, five-day operation.

According to ICE officials, the arrestees were nationals of Brazil, Colombia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Philippines and the Ukraine.

ICE officials said that the arrestees ranged from 18 to 66-years-old and were previously convicted for “a variety of offenses,” including attempted murder, robbery, criminal sexual contact of a child, endangering the welfare of a child, child abuse, aggravated assault, distribution of narcotics, larceny, DUI, possession of a weapon and domestic violence.

Authorities didn’t offer specific locations where the arrests took place, but stated that the operation was supported by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New Jersey field office, the New Jersey State Parole Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.

• See related article: Feds Arrest 82 In N.J. During Massive Immigration Sweep

In February, Newark ICE agents apprehended one of the agency’s “Most Wanted Fugitives,” Mexican citizen Atlixqueno-Vaquero, as he left his New Jersey residence.

Authorities didn’t specify what town the arrest took place in.

• See related article: Immigration Agents Arrest ‘Most Wanted Fugitive’ In New Jersey

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