A weekend ICE operation at a New Jersey train station has sparked fear and frustration among residents and lawmakers from two cities that border the transit stop.
Video footage shows federal agents arresting several people on Sunday at the light rail station at 9th Street and Jackson Street, on the border of Jersey City and Hoboken.
Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros witnessed some of the federal activity. He pulled out his cellphone and began recording Sunday morning at the Hudson County station after coming face-to-face with several agents.
“We’re ICE, clearly we’re marked,” the men in the video said. “You can continue talking but we’re not going to answer any questions.”
Ephros began asking the agents questions in the elevator, but he got few answers. So he continued to observe and said he was one person taken into custody.
“It felt a little bit like autopilot, like I just need to film, I need to document this, I need to follow them as much as I can,” he reflected on Monday. “I wish I could’ve done more.”
The mayor also took to social media after the weekend arrests, delivering a message to residents in an attempt to inform them of their rights. Jersey City Mayor James Solomon also explained the executive order he signed barring ICE operations from taking place on city property.
Hoboken’s mayor joined other Hudson County officials late in the day for an emergency community meeting. She said local police were given no heads up and did not assist in the operation.
“We don’t know still the number of total people who were taken yesterday. We do know that some, if not all, were taken to Delaney Hall in Newark,” Mayor Emily Jabbour said.
“Anecdotally, we heard from people who went on their morning community this morning today through the light rail station and said it was noticeable very quiet this morning.”
Ephros said he understands some people might be afraid to question agents like he did, but he said it’s important the community bands together.
“ICE does not belong in our community, scaring out neighbors, making our small businesses close down out of fear, keeping people off the streets,” he said.
Governor Mikie Sherrill announced last week a new state portal, where people are urged to record local ICE raids to keep the public informed.
The number of people arrested by ICE is still unknown. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment about the Sunday arrests.
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