Immigrants Arrested in New Brunswick Were In Gangs, ICE Says

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Officials with the Newark field office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that yes, there were illegal immigration raids in New Brunswick last Thursday. Six people were picked up by ICE police and all six were in the country illegally, ICE spokesman Luis Martinez told Patch on Monday. However, all six were also involved in international gang activity, he said.

"ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested six people in New Brunswick on Thursday for civil immigration violations," said Martinez. "Those arrested are members or associates of transnational gangs. HSI regularly conducts gang enforcement operations across the country to enhance public safety.”

A Latino advocacy group spokeswoman, Teresa Vivar, said that the raids started early Thursday morning, beginning at about 5:30 a.m. and lasted until 10 a.m. Targeted streets included French Street, Sandford Street and Joyce Kilmer Avenue. Vans carrying day laborers were pulled over, cars were stopped in the middle of the street and homes were entered as families got ready for the school day.

Vivar said families told her as many as 10 people were detained, but ICE said Monday it was only six. Vivar said ICE has detained alleged gang members in New Brunswick before.

Past Patch reporting:

Immigration Raids in New Brunswick Thursday