Some area mayors joined with city officials, state representatives and other on the steps of Newark City Hall Monday, denouncing The Trump Administration’s plans to conduct pre-dawn ICE raids. Those raids were scheduled to happen Sunday but were postponed for a couple of weeks.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka says they reject President Trump’s attack on undocumented families across the United States. He calls the raids outrageous.
"They're saying there's a two week reprieve, but it does not mean they won't happen. So we want to stand against anything that suggests that they're going to come here to the city of Newark and arrest anybody or detain anybody from this community simply because they are not documented residents of this community. We think that everybody in the city of Newark is a resident, whether they are documented or undocumented."
Mayor Baraka stress that Newark PD will not cooperate with ICE officials during any upcoming raids.
Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz says communities need to show support for each other.
"It is imperative that we inform our residents of their rights. We need to protect these children, every innocent, vulnerable child and their families. Their parents are seeking a new life. Surviving in oppression is not a life."
One of those who stood on the steps with the elected officials was Amol Sinha, the Executive Director of the ACLU-New Jersey. Sinha says the raids would have a huge impact on the state of New Jersey.
"There are thousands of undocumented people in New Jersey. There are thousands with final orders of deportation against them in New Jersey and these are people who have been living in the United States and New Jersey for years, decades even. They have their own children here who are U.S. citizens who are involved in the school system. So there are thousands of people that could be impacted."
Mayor Baraka urged those who may be impacted by the raids to contact their city hall or clergy members to find out what options they have.
