ICYMI: Newark Mayor Baraka Condemns ICE Raid as An Unconstitutional Attack on American Families

Washington, D.C – Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, joined by faith leaders, advocates, and local and national elected officials including Representative Rob Menendez (D-NJ), held a press conference today to denounce a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid that targeted a local business without a warrant. The raid, which resulted in the temporary detention of U.S. citizens and the questioning of a military veteran’s identification, has sparked outrage across the Newark community. “I am appalled, upset, and angry that this would happen here. We can’t just let this happen and not say anything,” Mayor Baraka said. “It’s a slippery slope when we think it’s okay to suspend the Constitution in order to make a political point or statement.” 

WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE

“ICE walked in like it was their empire’s own conquered land, they were heavily armed, there was no prior announcement, they were blocking entrances and exits, they were scrambling up delivery ramps, they were banging down bathroom doors to make sure no one was hiding inside,” said Amy Torres with New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.

While ICE claimed that citizens could necessarily be caught up in enforcement proceedings, Mayor Baraka responded: “How do you determine who is undocumented and who is a criminal just by looking at them? If we allow people to…put us in categories of [criminality] based on how we look, then we’re going back to a time that was very dangerous in this country–specifically for people that look like me.”

Mayor Baraka emphasized that America’s strength lies in its foundational guarantees of freedom and justice, regardless of an individual’s background. “We want to protect folks in our community, our neighbors, and our family members. The fact of the matter is, we believe in democracy in Newark, New Jersey, and we’re going to stand on democracy here. And we’re going to fight for all of our residents in this city, no matter what that looks like.”

The raid is part of President Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which prioritizes cruelty and chaos and seeks to tear American families apart. Trump’s policies—from mass deportations to efforts to revoke birthright citizenship—aim to reshape America into a country where families are separated, workers are deported, and constitutional rights are discarded. These policies are deeply unpopular, as polling consistently shows that Americans overwhelmingly prefer a path to citizenship for immigrants who have lived and contributed to this country for years.

“You should be passionate, and you should be angry,” Mayor Baraka affirmed, urging the community and advocates to continue fighting against these attacks on families and democracy.

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