Federal immigration agents detained a North Bergen mother Friday afternoon on a residential street, pulling her away from her two crying sons while neighbors looked on. The incident occurred near a Hudson County school, and activist Kevin Ortega-Rojas captured the scene on video and posted it to Instagram.
The footage shows ICE agents, several wearing tactical vests and face coverings, carrying out the enforcement action in broad daylight while young children watched from nearby. Residents and onlookers expressed concern about the psychological well-being of the youth present.
Key Takeaways
- ICE agents detained a North Bergen mother Friday afternoon near a Hudson County school while her two sons watched and cried, with activist Kevin Ortega-Rojas capturing the incident on video and posting it to Instagram.
- Commissioner Hugo Cabrera says the agents violated a New Jersey law signed by Gov. Mikie Sherrill in March banning face coverings during immigration enforcement actions.
- North Bergen bars its police from cooperating with ICE and unanimously passed an ordinance in February prohibiting the agency from operating on any municipal property.
Officials Issue a Forceful Joint Condemnation
Mayor Nick Sacco and Township Commissioner Hugo Cabrera released a joint statement Saturday formally condemning the enforcement action ICE carried out within the township. Sacco described North Bergen as a diverse, hardworking, and tight-knit community, pledged to stand by its residents regardless of background, and called the federal tactics aggressive, vowing to connect residents with the legal resources needed to respond…