FULL REMARKS: McIver Speaks Out Against ICE Raid in Newark
“I want to make it clear to Trump and his administration that we mean business here in New Jersey.”
Watch McIver’s remarks here
NEWARK, N.J. – In a press conference this morning, Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) spoke out against the reported ICE raid that took place in Newark, New Jersey, yesterday. Alongside Mayor Ras Baraka, Rep. Rob Menendez, local elected officials, and immigrant rights groups, McIver vowed to keep fighting in the face of this local raid and Donald Trump’s broad, anti-immigrant crackdown.
McIver reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday evening to obtain more information on how this raid that targeted immigrants, citizens and a U.S. veteran was able to take place without a warrant. She has not yet received a response.
Video of the press conference is here and a full transcript of McIver’s remarks is below:
Good morning, Mayor Baraka, City Council members and all of the elected officials that are joined here today, all of the organizations, and to the press.
I wish we were all gathered here under better circumstances but unfortunately we’re not.
The event that unfolded yesterday was despicable.
As we’ve heard over and over again, ICE agents entered a business without a warrant, threatened community members, and harassed and held immigrants, citizens and even a veteran of our nation’s military.
My office reached out to ICE demanding answers on how exactly yesterday’s raid was allowed to take place without warrant and without justification—still no answers.
They barged into our city to detain our neighbors.
Trump’s attack on immigrant communities is now at our front door.
Trump has literally been the president for less than 100 hours, and in those hours he has signed a ton of executive orders, some that take aim at birthright citizenship, pause refugee admissions, reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and promise aggressive immigration crackdowns, like the one that happened here yesterday.
And, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has promised to remove protected status from “sensitive” areas, to give ICE unlimited access to operate at schools, churches and other locations that used to be protected.
This is cruel.
Some of these executive orders are unlawful and our state, advocacy groups and elected officials are already fighting back in the courts to protect our communities.
Raids and attacks like what we witnessed in Newark yesterday did nothing to make people feel safer.
People should not have to fear that going to church or school will result in their arrest or deportation.
Parents who have babies in our country should not be told their child who is born here is not a citizen.
That goes against our Constitution.
I understand the fear coming from our community, and I want to make it clear: I stand with you. Me and Congressman Menendez, we stand with you. [With] Mayor Baraka, we stand with you. Our councilmembers and all of our state delegation folks who are here today, we stand with you.
We have to know our rights, and stand together to protect ourselves and keep each other safe in these times. My office is here to help.
Just yesterday—as news of the raid broke—I hosted an immigrant rights townhall where we spoke to over 5,700 constituents.
We have community resources on our website. And we can help with casework inquiries with federal agencies like Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Bot Congressman Menendez from the 8th and me from the 10th, we’re here to help.
The months ahead will not be easy. There are some challenging times ahead of us. Reports of ICE operations like yesterday’s are popping up all across the country.
But I am with you every step of the way.
Many Republicans in Congress—and Congressman Menendez can attest to this—they support these disgusting Trump polices.
As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I will see the bulk of these anti-immigrant bills this Congress, and I will reject these bills. I will not back down from this fight.
I will advocate for the protection of immigrants in the 10th District and nationwide.
I want to make it clear to Trump and his administration that we mean business here in New Jersey, and we will not tolerate his hateful policies.
We will fight back together to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. And we will win.
Thank you.
###
(Visited 90 times, 90 visits today)
Newark, New Jersey – In the wake of a recent ICE raid in Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka has sent a clear message to President Trump: New Jersey is serious about enforcement.
The raid, which took place last week, targeted several businesses in Newark suspected of employing undocumented immigrants. The operation resulted in the arrest of over 100 individuals and has sparked controversy and outrage among immigrant rights activists and local officials.
Mayor Baraka wasted no time in responding to the raid, issuing a statement condemning the actions of ICE and reaffirming Newark’s commitment to protecting its immigrant community. In a direct message to President Trump, Mayor Baraka stated, “New Jersey is serious about enforcement, but we are also serious about protecting our residents and upholding their rights.”
The mayor’s strong stance on immigration enforcement is not surprising, given Newark’s history as a sanctuary city and its long-standing commitment to welcoming and supporting immigrants. In recent years, the city has implemented policies to protect undocumented residents and limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The ICE raid in Newark comes at a time of heightened tensions over immigration policy in the United States. President Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration a top priority of his administration, leading to increased enforcement actions and controversial policies such as family separations at the border.
In response to the raid, Governor Phil Murphy also weighed in, expressing his concern over the impact on immigrant communities in New Jersey. He called for a more humane approach to immigration enforcement and urged federal authorities to work with local officials to ensure that raids are conducted in a way that respects the rights and dignity of all individuals involved.
The ICE raid in Newark serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing immigrant communities in the current political climate. As tensions continue to escalate over immigration policy, it is clear that local leaders like Mayor Baraka are willing to take a stand and defend the rights of their residents, regardless of their immigration status.
In the face of increased enforcement actions and uncertainty surrounding immigration policy, it is more important than ever for communities to come together and support one another. Newark’s response to the ICE raid sends a powerful message that New Jersey stands united in its commitment to protecting all residents, regardless of their background or nationality.
