Feds Make String of Arrests Near Jersey City-Hoboken Border, Raising Alarm Bells in Immigrant Communities
A series of arrests made by federal immigration agents near the Hoboken-Jersey City border on Sunday morning has left local officials and residents on high alert. The detentions took place without warning, sparking concerns about the treatment of immigrant communities.
According to eyewitnesses, including Jersey City Councilmember Jake Ephros, who witnessed two individuals being taken into custody at the 9th Street Light Rail Station, the arrests were swift and decisive. Ephros described the scene as "disturbing," noting that masked officers handcuffed a man and then retreated to an elevator before leaving in unmarked vehicles.
In a chilling exchange captured on video, one of the agents told Ephros, "We're ICE, clearly we're marked," adding, "There's nothing that you're going to say that's going to prevent us from doing our job." When asked if they had a warrant or were looking for someone specific, the agent responded, "We don't need a warrant, bro. Stop getting that in your head."
Local officials have condemned the tactic, with Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour saying her city has no further information on the scope of the operation and urging residents to know their rights under federal law.
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon echoed these sentiments, stating that local police are barred from aiding ICE without a judge's warrant and that city property may not be used for immigration operations. He also warned residents about the importance of knowing their rights during encounters with immigration authorities.
The incident comes as national attention is focused on the tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in recent months. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed banning local police partnerships with ICE, highlighting growing concerns among immigrant communities about enforcement activities.
As the situation unfolds, officials are urging residents to exercise caution and seek guidance from trusted sources when dealing with immigration authorities.
A series of arrests made by federal immigration agents near the Hoboken-Jersey City border on Sunday morning has left local officials and residents on high alert. The detentions took place without warning, sparking concerns about the treatment of immigrant communities.
According to eyewitnesses, including Jersey City Councilmember Jake Ephros, who witnessed two individuals being taken into custody at the 9th Street Light Rail Station, the arrests were swift and decisive. Ephros described the scene as "disturbing," noting that masked officers handcuffed a man and then retreated to an elevator before leaving in unmarked vehicles.
In a chilling exchange captured on video, one of the agents told Ephros, "We're ICE, clearly we're marked," adding, "There's nothing that you're going to say that's going to prevent us from doing our job." When asked if they had a warrant or were looking for someone specific, the agent responded, "We don't need a warrant, bro. Stop getting that in your head."
Local officials have condemned the tactic, with Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour saying her city has no further information on the scope of the operation and urging residents to know their rights under federal law.
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon echoed these sentiments, stating that local police are barred from aiding ICE without a judge's warrant and that city property may not be used for immigration operations. He also warned residents about the importance of knowing their rights during encounters with immigration authorities.
The incident comes as national attention is focused on the tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in recent months. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed banning local police partnerships with ICE, highlighting growing concerns among immigrant communities about enforcement activities.
As the situation unfolds, officials are urging residents to exercise caution and seek guidance from trusted sources when dealing with immigration authorities.
these detentions without warning is so scary for ppl living in those areas, doesnt feel right at all...ICE gotta respect ppl rights & follow proper procedures or theyre gonna have to face the consequences 
This latest ICE operation in Jersey City is a major red flag 
. And the part where the agent says "we don't need a warrant" gives me chills 
. What's going on with ICE these days? They seem to be getting bolder by the day...and it's scaring a lot of good people 
. The fact that local officials are speaking out and saying they won't let ICE use their cities as playgrounds is a step in the right direction 
. But we need more than just words - we need real change 
.
. Can't we just have a peaceful life without being harassed by masked agents? 
. I mean, I get it, they gotta enforce the law, but this feels like a full-on ICE sweep 
. Local officials are right to speak out against this tactic, though - knowin' your rights is key when dealin' with immigration authorities 
. We gotta stand up for our immigrant communities and make sure they feel safe and supported 
#ICEsweeps #ImmigrantRightsMatter #KnowYourRights
Give me a break. This is what's causing all the panic in immigrant communities, plain and simple. We need better tactics from law enforcement, not more intimidation 
... I mean, I get it, safety first and all that, but come on, can't they just follow protocol like everyone else? 
Like, what's up with the "clearly we're marked" comment from the agent? That's just creepy 
. And then the mayor is like "know your rights" and I'm over here thinking... yeah, duh, that's not exactly reassuring 
.
.
ICE is just trying to "slip away" unnoticed 
Meanwhile, residents are left feeling "trapped" 
#ICEprobs #ImmigrantRights 
it's like they think they own the place or something. and that line about not needing a warrant? 
i'm so worried for the immigrant communities around here, they're already living in fear, and now this? it's just not right.
? Like, what kind of training do they need to make people feel so scared and intimidated?! 
.
.
! How can they just barge in and detain ppl without even having a warrant? 
It's super scary for the immigrant community, especially with all the ICE rhetoric going on lately 
They're just swooping in and grabbing people without even giving them a heads up 
anyway, cities gotta be able to protect their residents from federal overreach 
. The fact that they're trying to intimidate residents by saying "there's nothing you can say to stop us" is just not cool 
.
. We need to stand up for our communities and make sure that law enforcement agencies aren't being used as a tool for deportation 
.
This whole thing is giving me major vibes of a setup for a reality TV show 
Like, come on, dude. You think a simple vest and a badge makes you some kind of superpower? Newsflash: it doesn't. And that 'bro' at the end just made everything 10x worse 
And what's with the intimidation tactics? Trying to scare people into cooperating? That's not how you build trust, folks.
. I'm all for getting our immigration system in order, but this isn't how you do it...