Dozens arrested in ICE raid at N.J. warehouse

Twenty-nine people were arrested during an ICE raid at a warehouse in Edison on Wednesday morning, the township’s mayor said. .

Video from New Brunswick-based advocacy group New Labor shows Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and Customs and Border Protection officers at Smart Logistics and Freight Solutions, which houses Amazon, UPS and FedEx.

Amanda Dominguez of New Labor said ICE officers tailed CBP officials into the facility. CBP officers are allowed in because the warehouse, located at 65 Patrick Avenue, is a CBP-bonded facility.

ICE acknowledged a request for comment from NJ Advance Media but didn’t immediately provide one.

Edison Mayor Sam Joshi said township officials were informed about the planned raid prior to it occurring.

Dominguez said ICE officers arrived at 10 a.m., jumped out of an unmarked vehicle, approached a guard in a security booth. They then demanded the security guard open the gate and hand over his walkie-talkie.

ICE officers then stormed into the warehouse and began removing workers, she said.

“It’s a Customs and Border Patrol bonded facility, so they have a contract where they’re allowed to go and check on the goods in the warehouse, but the problem is now is that they’re holding the door open for their ICE counterparts and that is illegal,” Dominguez said. ”ICE still needs a warrant signed by a judge to go and do ICE actions.”

Workers who could provide adequate documentation were given wristbands while others were loaded into unmarked vans and taken away, Dominguez said.

ICE officers also used drones inside the warehouse to search for workers possibly hiding in the scaffolding, Dominguez said. CBP officers didn’t participate in the arrests.

ICE didn’t provide information to relatives about where their loved ones were being taken.

Three people were injured during the raid, including one worker who was handcuffed and thrown to the ground by an ICE officer and another who was seen bleeding from his torso, Dominguez said. A third was hurt in an accidental fall.

“Family members are left wondering what is happening to my loved ones, and they’re not being given any guidance,” Dominguez said. “It was extremely violent yesterday. I just really want to highlight how violent this was and that this is not just an attack on an immigrant community but on working class people.”

There are about 80 Customs and Border Protection-bonded facilities in New Jersey and New York, with Dominguez noting, “we may see more of these (raids).”

In July, ICE raided another CPB-bonded facility in Edison, Alba Wines and Spirits, arresting an estimated 20 people.

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-5), whose district includes Edison, criticized the Trump administration for the latest raid.

“Once again, President Trump is terrorizing our communities and raiding places of work,” Pallone said in a statement on Thursday. “Trump keeps suggesting that he is only arresting or deporting hardened criminals and gangsters. Yesterday’s raid in Edison is more proof his administration will stretch the law without a warrant. The warehouse workers were just trying to do their jobs when armed agents stormed in rounding up our neighbors without warning or cause, just to make a political point.”

In addition to Wednesday’s raid in Edison, ICE officers also conducted one on Bayard Street in Trenton on Thursday morning.

Trenton police didn’t participate in the action but video shows officers in patrol cars monitoring the scene. ICE called Trenton police because a member of a local community group repeatedly asked ICE officers if they had a warrant, Dominguez said.

Representatives from Radio Jornalera NJ who questioned Trenton police about their presence were told by officers that they are not a part of the raid.

“They said ‘we’re not getting involved, and (the activists) were like, but you are getting involved because you’re telling us to leave.”

One activist was arrested, Dominguez said.

Trenton police and the mayor’s office didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.

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