NJ senators 'deeply concerned' about ICE raid in Newark

Sens. Andy Kim and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) raised concerns with a reported Immigration and Custom Enforcement raid of an establishment in Newark in which undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens were detained.

“We are deeply concerned about the news of an ICE raid in Newark today. Our offices have reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to demand answers,” Kim and Booker wrote in a statement.

“Actions like this one sow fear in all of our communities — and our broken immigration system requires solutions, not fear tactics,” they added.

"We will continue to work with Mayor Baraka and other local officials to gather more information to ensure all New Jerseyans are safe and their dignity and rights are protected."

Newark's mayor, Ras Baraka, called the ICE action “egregious” and a violation of the Fourth Amendment. 

“Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized,” Baraka said in a statement. 

Despite pushback, President Trump and “border czar” Tom Homan have said they will not let up on efforts to carry out the largest deportation in the country’s history. 

“I hope the sanctuary cities come around once they see that we really are concentrated on the criminals,” Homan said in an interview late Thursday with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo. “We hope they’ll sit at the table and work with us.”  

Homan also invited the reporter to the frontlines to watch the enforcement actions. 

Lawmakers confirmed more than 300 arrests of illegal immigrants were made during Trump’s first day in office while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed military aircrafts were being used to carry out deportation flights on Friday.