Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), a candidate for Jersey City mayor, is expressing concerns about recent raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pointing out that he voted against renewing their county jail contract in 2020.
“Just a few short days into the new Trump administration it appears that many of our fears are already being realized, with reports of ICE agents indiscriminately arresting people and causing widespread fear and unrest,” O’Dea said in a statement.
“This is exactly why I was one of the only elected officials in Hudson County who opposed the ICE contract renewal with county government, because it did not align with our values here in the most diverse city in the country.”
The infamous ICE contract with the county jail received a new deal in November 2020 after a 6-3 vote by the board commissioners after nine hours of public comment opposing the move.
Then-Commissioner Joel Torres (D-4), Commissioner Fanny Cedeno (D-6), and O’Dea voted no.
The county ended up phasing out the contract well before it was set to expire at the end of 2021.
As far as the recent ICE raids, including one law enforcement action in West New York, O’Dea raised concerns about the approach of the second administration of President Donald Trump (R).
“We can all agree that violent criminals who are undocumented immigrants should be subject to immigration enforcement. However, Trump’s unconstitutional Executive Order targeting birthright citizenship and the early reports of ICE agents threatening U.S. citizens and even young children in schools are cause for major concern,” he further stated.
“I want all residents of our city to feel welcome and safe and I will do everything in my power to make sure residents are aware of their rights, that legal counsel is available to law abiding immigrants facing deportation, and that we pressure the federal government to respect the rule of law and due process while exercising some degree of restraint and humanity in their actions.”
Despite some claims to the contrary on social media and beyond, there have been no targeted enforcement actions by ICE in Jersey City thus far.
O’Dea is running in a field of five in the non-partisan November 4th mayoral race and is the first one to speak out against ICE.
His opponents are former Gov. Jim McGreevey, Council President Joyce Watterman, Ward E Councilman James Solomon, and ex-Board of Education President Mussab Ali.