Additional Coverage:
Former Trump administration border official, Tom Homan, recently pledged to conduct large-scale immigration raids in sanctuary cities. This follows reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detaining individuals in several cities, including Newark, Boston, and New York City, causing concern among residents.
Sources suggest these operations are routine ICE procedures, similar to those conducted for years. ICE stated 538 arrests were made on Thursday.
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka accused ICE of raiding a local business and detaining undocumented residents and citizens without a warrant. He claimed one detainee was a veteran whose military documentation was questioned.
Mayor Baraka condemned the actions as a violation of the Fourth Amendment and promised a press conference to address the issue.
Reports indicate ICE also made arrests in New York, including an alleged gang member, and in Chelsea and East Boston, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed support for apprehending criminals, regardless of immigration status. She characterized the operations as standard procedure rather than raids.