Newark ICE Raid: 3 New Jersey Restaurant Workers Arrested Without Warrant, Mayor Baraka Says

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) — Mayor Ras Baraka speaks after saying three undocumented workers and other U.S. citizens were arrested, fingerprinted and had their photos and ID photos taken at a fruit restaurant seaside in Newark.

Three people were arrested in the raid inside Ocean Seafood Depot, with authorities saying they were unable to provide documentation proving they had legal status.

Baraka said in a statement that ICE “searched” the business without producing a warrant. In a press release, the mayor said one of the detainees was a veteran who had suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documents called into question.

On Friday, Baraka held a press conference and fired back at the Trump administration.

“The problem is, none of these people were rapists, murderers or criminals,” Baraka said. “The problem is, ICE went in there without a warrant. And we can disagree on policy, you can disagree with me on the role immigrants play in our community’s economy , you may disagree with me that most immigrants are not criminals, in fact, they are victims of violence in the cities, we may disagree on whether or not you support the mass deportation. But what we need to be on. OK, what separates this country from every other country in the world is the Constitution of the United States.

The company owner said he was caught off guard when federal agents requested documents for the workers.

“I think we need to be a country of law, but go after the bad guys, not the workers,” said owner Luis Janota. “These are people. These are family people. These are people who show up to work every day and have a responsibility.”

Baraka called the raid “egregious” and said it went against the Constitution.

“ICE entered as if it was the conquered land of their empire, they were heavily armed, there was no prior announcement, they blocked the entrances and exits, they climbed the delivery ramps, they were knocking on bathroom doors to make sure no one was hiding inside,” said Amy Torres of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.

Mayor Baraka also said he received hate messages after speaking out. “Some people want us to arrest the store owner or say these people are dangerous criminals. But none of them were. That kind of talk is not what the store is for. ‘America,’ he said.

The mayor called on Gov. Phil Murphy and other state leaders to ensure this doesn’t happen again. “We will protect our neighbors and our family members. Newark will defend democracy,” said Mayor Baraka.

ICE Newark said in a statement:

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may encounter U.S. citizens during field work and may request identification to establish an individual’s identity, as was the case when of a targeted enforcement operation at a construction site today in Newark, New Jersey. This is an active investigation and, per ICE Policy, we cannot discuss ongoing investigations.

Additionally, ICE also made arrests in New York on Wednesday, including a suspected MS-13 member.

In an article on X, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency made a total of 538 arrests on Thursday.

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