State Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack and Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez are decrying recent raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling their actions “hateful and unjust treatment of undocumented residents.”
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“These unnecessary and dangerous ICE actions in Newark are a chilling reminder of the ongoing attempts to intimidate, silence, and marginalize undocumented individuals in our communities,” the duo said in a joint statement.
“It is deeply heartbreaking to witness the hateful and unjust treatment of undocumented residents here in New Jersey and across the country. These actions are deliberate attempts to instill fear, but we refuse to allow fear to force our communities into the shadows.”
While their reaction was to Thursday’s ICE raid at seafood market in Newark, HudPost reported that at least one man was detained by ICE in West New York this morning.
LD-33 consists of West New York, Union City, North Bergen, Guttenberg, and Secaucus.
“They [Stack and Rodriguez] are awaiting additional details from the authorities to ensure they accurately highlight the key information regarding the ICE sighting and share the most impactful updates with the community,” noted Jocelyn Rojas, Rodriguez’s chief of staff.
ICE did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that we stand united with Latinos and minorities across this country. We take immense pride in standing up for those who cannot,” Stack and Rodriguez added.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to this cause and will continue to fight to ensure that every individual in our state is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. Together, we must continue to defend and support one another and ensure New Jersey remains a place where compassion, justice, and unity prevail over fear and division.”