Federal immigration enforcement operations this week provoked strong reactions in several U.S. cities, including Newark, Boston and New York.
While Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has described the arrests as routine, city officials and community leaders are expressing concern about the impact of these interventions.
In a statement released Thursday, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka criticized ICE for what he called a “raid” on a local business. According to Baraka, agents arrested both undocumented individuals and U.S. citizens, apparently without presenting a warrant.
Among those stopped, he mentioned a veteran whose military service documents were reportedly questioned.
“This outrageous act clearly violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right of citizens to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures,” said Baraka. He announced his intention to hold a press conference in collaboration with civil rights organizations to address the situation.
Meanwhile, ICE reported making 538 arrests nationwide on Thursday.
In a posting on X (formerly Twitter), the agency said the operations targeted individuals considered threats to public safety, including gang members and people with serious criminal convictions.
In Boston, local media outlet WCVB reported that ICE agents made arrests in Chelsea and East Boston. A man was filmed being pulled over by federal agents.
In New York, WABC reported that ICE apprehended several people, including an alleged MS-13 gang member.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey spoke out about the operations in her state and supported the arrests of people involved in criminal activity. “I wouldn’t call these raids,” she told WCVB. “It seems to be in line with what we expected: the arrest of criminals in our communities, which I support regardless of their migratory status.”
These operations come shortly after President Donald Trump’s second inauguration and following recent statements by Tom Homan, the head of border issues under the Trump administration, who promised to conduct “major raids” in sanctuary cities across the country.
While ICE has defended its actions as routine and necessary for public safety, critics believe they generate fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities.
Baraka and other officials have called for greater transparency and accountability in the way ICE conducts its operations, stressing the need to respect constitutional rights.
