ICE Detained Employees in a Newark Fish Market Raid | Eater NY
"According to reports, a Newark fish wholesaler in the Ironbound neighborhood was raided yesterday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, allegedly without a warrant; both undocumented workers and U.S. citizens were detained, the agency and the mayor’s office confirmed. The action comes following President Donald Trump’s promise to crack down on immigration and deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The business is run by owners Luis and Bela Janota, who founded the seafood wholesaler in 1998, according to its website. Luis Janota said that 10 or 12 ICE agents visited “after receiving complaints” and “were looking for documentation,” and told ABC News that agents asked for documentation for three workers. Janota told New York PIX11 that agents were searching for “a license or a passport,” and said, “I thought, who walks around with a passport?” When they couldn’t provide it, ICE took them into custody. Janota also told PIX11 that it appeared ICE was going after “certain kinds of people — not every kind, because they did not ask me for documentation for my American workers, Portuguese workers, or white workers.” The Newark mayor’s office confirmed detentions and Mayor Ras J. Baraka said, “One of the detainees is a U.S. military veteran who suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned.” He added, “Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized,” and called the action: “This egregious act is in plain violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” he wrote, “which guarantees ‘the right of the people be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures….’” ICE confirmed the raid in a statement: “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 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.” The agency noted the raid is part of an active investigation and that it “cannot discuss ongoing investigations.” At least one detainee reportedly received a court date to appear before a judge. New Jersey members of Congress also reacted publicly: “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,” said U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), adding, “Actions like this one sow fear in all of our communities — and our broken immigration system requires solutions, not fear tactics.”" - Melissa McCart
