ICE raid at Newark, NJ fish market was not part of mass deportation plan: Sources

Federal immigration agents on Thursday detained several workers, including a U.S. military veteran, at Oceans Seafood Depot in Newark, New Jersey, local advocates and officials told FOX 5 NY.

"The problem with this is that none of these people were rapists, or murderers or criminals," Newark Mayor Ras Baraka claimed at a Friday morning press conference. "The problem with it is that ICE went in there without a warrant."

Baraka also mentioned that he's spoken with the schools superintendent about protocol in the case that ICE shows up at schools.

"We don't want an ICE detention center in Newark," the mayor said.

ICE raid in Newark, NJ

What we know:

Immigration advocates in Newark allege that federal agents descended on the market on Adams Street around 11:30 a.m. without a warrant and demanded to see worker's documents. 

A source at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told FOX 5 NY that what happened at Oceans Seafood was not part of Trump's mass deportation plan and was a routine operation as a result of receiving a tip that employees without legal status were being employed at the market. 

Previously, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had said in a statement to FOX 5 NY, saying: "ICE may encounter U.S. citizens while conducting field work and may request identification to establish an individual’s identity as was the case during a targeted enforcement operation at a worksite today in Newark, New Jersey. This is an active investigation and, per ICE policy, we cannot discuss ongoing investigations."

Officials initially rounded up a total of eight people – four women, all of whom were mothers, and four men.

According to Rafael Chavez with New Labor – a New Jersey-based organization that represents immigrant workers – all four women showed their ID's. He says ICE agents took their fingerprints and gave them slips to appear in court next month. 

Three of the men allegedly had no documentation and were detained – the 4th was an American citizen and released. 

Chavez told FOX 5 NY that the agents arrived in unmarked vehicles and showed no warrant before entering the building.

What we don't know:

It’s unclear at the moment why the people were detained.

ICE raid locations across the US

Big picture view:

In a post on X, ICE says it has made 538 arrests and lodged 373 detainers since President Donald Trump took office. 

Raids were also reportedly carried out in several other states, including cities such as Denver, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Seattle and Miami. 

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Where migrant ICE raids, arrests are already happening: List

The crackdown targeted undocumented immigrants with criminal records, with arrests occurring in multiple states.

The president says he'll focus on violent criminals first, such as sex offenders, gang members and drug cartels. But order czar Tom Homan stressed that anyone living in the United States illegally could very well get a visit from federal agents. 

‘We are deeply concerned’

What they're saying:

Mayor Baraka released a statement strongly condemning the incident.

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided a local establishment in the city of Newark, detaining undocumented residents as well as citizens without producing a warrant," Baraka's statement read. "One of the detainees is a U.S. military veteran who suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned."

Baraka went on to say that the operation was a violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. The Fourth Amendment guarantees "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated."

In a joint statement, New Jersey senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim said, in part: "We are deeply concerned about the news of an ICE raid in Newark today. Our offices have reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to demand answers."

What's next:

According to Chavez, it was not the only operation of its kind that happened in Newark on Thursday. He alleges that several different establishments across the city were raided as well. 

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