Unannounced ICE Activity in New Jersey Raises Alarm After Child Questioned on Way to School
A child and her uncle were questioned by federal authorities while walking to school in Teaneck, causing panic and confusion in multiple areas. Later, local officials verified that the duo were detained, briefly questioned, then released after agents determined the uncle is a U.S. citizen. No one was arrested, but the lack of notification and information has left people uneasy.
Residents reported ICE agents in Teaneck on social media and private neighborhood groups early Thursday. Concerned calls to local police followed posters suggesting a youngster was held. Police responded without warning and could not confirm federal activity.
Teaneck officials later explained that immigration agents stopped the youngster and her uncle on their way to school, asked questions, then let them go. The moment still stung. Mayor Mark J. Schwartz said the community was disappointed by federal authorities’ lack of contact and that many citizens are scared. He stated community uncertainty is a major concern.
A recent high-profile case in Minnesota, where immigration officers arrested a five-year-old youngster with a Spider-Man backpack before a federal judge released him, was instantly compared. That image went viral online and raised national concerns about immigration enforcement, especially with youngsters.
Recent weeks have seen comparable ICE activity around New Jersey, frequently without notification to local law enforcement. Police say they are often called to locations to ensure federal agents are conducting activities outside local control, which confuses them. Teaneck police indicated that they are not alerted before or after ICE actions in the township.
Federal immigration authorities and New Jersey’s state leadership have long clashed. Local police involvement in immigration enforcement hurts trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities and public safety, according to state officials. New Jersey has “immigrant trust” directives that prohibit federal immigration agency cooperation.
Federal officials disagree, arguing that policies make communities less safe by impeding cooperation to remove severe criminals. Hernando Garcia-Morales, a Mexican national with a criminal past, was accused of throwing a rock from an overpass onto a school bus on the New Jersey Turnpike, wounding a child. ICE detained him following his arrest, blaming state regulations that impede collaboration.
Other cities like New Brunswick, Jersey City, and Hoboken have seen ICE agents. Authorities in those areas said their police agencies were not informed and did not assist with the activities. Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour claimed witnesses saw people being dragged from a light rail station and worried about immigrant residents who are scared and destabilized.
Criminal behavior has also increased due to unclear information. A Newark guy was arrested for impersonating an ICE officer and robbed individuals while wearing “ICE” gear. Residents are advised to be vigilant and report suspicious activities to local authorities.
As immigration enforcement remains a national issue, New Jersey neighborhoods are on edge. Local leaders support public safety but want openness, defined boundaries, and constitutional protections. Many locals, especially immigrants and mixed-status families, fear ordinary living, walking children to school, riding public transit, and feeling safe in their surroundings.
Sources:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Teaneck Township Officials
Hoboken City Officials
