Newark Mayor Condemns ICE Raid at Local Fish Market

NEWARK, N.J. — Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has condemned an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a local fish market, calling it an illegal operation that violated constitutional rights. The raid, which occurred Thursday, resulted in the detention of three individuals who could not produce documentation, as well as the questioning of American workers, including a military veteran.

Baraka expressed outrage over the incident, stating, “When I got this information, I was appalled, upset, and angry that this would happen here in this state, in this country, that this would be allowed.” He emphasized that ICE agents entered the business without a warrant, a move he described as a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The raid took place at a family-owned restaurant supplier in Newark. Baraka warned of the broader implications, saying, “Today they’ll go into a store and violate those people’s rights without a warrant and pull people out of there, tomorrow they’ll come to your house.” He stressed the importance of the U.S. Constitution in safeguarding individual rights.

Amy Torres, Executive Director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, criticized ICE’s actions, stating that the agency has overreached its constitutional authority. “Pathways that were legal on Sunday like asylum, the refugee resettlement program, DACA, TPS, are illegal today,” she said. Torres added that her organization is providing legal support for those arrested in the raid.

Baraka also revealed that he received threatening messages after speaking out against the raid. One message accused the detained individuals of being dangerous criminals, a claim Baraka vehemently denied. “The problem with this is that none of these people were rapists or murderers or criminals,” he said. “The problem with it is that ICE went in there without a warrant.”

ICE confirmed the enforcement operation but did not provide specific details. Since President Donald Trump took office earlier this week, ICE has reported 538 arrests and 373 detainers nationwide. The raid has intensified tensions over federal immigration enforcement tactics and raised concerns about the erosion of constitutional protections.