First ICE Raid Hits Princeton, at Wiggins Street Apartment

Princeton, NJ -- Members of the Human Services Commission, the police department, the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) and Unidad Latina en Acción NJ (ULA) are working together to keep residents calm and gain more information after Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained two immigrants in Princeton last week.

The agents were reported to be waiting outside a home on Wiggins Street, waiting for someone to exit, around 5 a.m. last Thursday.

Earlier this year, the organizations began an outreach campaign following an announcement from the Department of Homeland Security that the U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would conduct a series of raids across the nation.

The raids target children and families who were captured after May 1, 2014, after crossing the southern border and have been issued final orders of removal by an immigration court. In most cases, this occurred in absentia, and without their knowledge.

This is the first such incident in Princeton, and there is concern over the raid and the way it was done.

“People don’t know what’s next or what this means for their families,” said Councilwoman Heather Howard, liaison to the Human Services Commission.

She said Bill Wakefield and a police officer visited a Spanish Language Mass over the weekend, and discussed with attendees how to prepare for and deal with these incidents, and to make sure they know this was not a legal action.

“We want to build ties with the immigrant community and build trust between them and law enforcement,” Howard said. “If they don’t trust law enforcement, that undermines all our safety.”

She said people are scared, but reiterated that Princeton is a welcoming community.

“Diversity enriches our community,” she said.

“Helpful information handouts regarding Know Your Rights and ICE raids is available at the Human Services office and on the town’s website,” Human Services said in a statement. “These materials can help you and your family/friends/relatives best prepare in the event of an ICE raid.”

They provided the following advice:

• Keep personal and important documents in a safe and private place. Do not carry your home country passport or your consular card. This is best to kept away as it can raise flags if that document is provided to an ICE agent as form of identification.
• When asked for an ID please show your Mercer County ID. If you don’t have one, the card is offered at the Princeton Public Library on Thursdays from 12 pm – 2 pm and again from 5 pm – 7 pm on the 2nd floor (Room 232) of the Library. One must bring proof of identification (passport, cédula) and proof of address-lease, utility bill, bank statement.
• In the event of a raid, please contact the Human Services office. The department can link family members of a detained person to community organizations that can help you. There are services available that can assist you locate your family member, find legal assistance, offer support for those left behind without a parent/spouse/caregiver as a result of a raid. There is assistance available that can help connect you with your family member/relative in the detention center to offer them assistance and support.

Anyone who needs more information and have any questions should contact Human Services or visit the office at 609-688-2055 or at One Monument Drive in Princeton.