ICE SAYS IT TARGETED ASSAULT SUSPECT. RED BANK ARRESTS CONTINUE

In an email response to queries from redbankgreen on June 28 about the arrests that day, an ICE spokesperson who asked that their name not be used replied on July 7:

“ICE Newark arrested multiple illegal aliens during targeted immigration enforcement actions June 28 in Red Bank, New Jersey. One target was a criminal illegal alien from Mexico who illegally reentered the United States and has pending charges for simple assault, terroristic threat, possession of weapon, and unlawful possession of weapon; the additional targets were found to have unlawfully entered the U.S. All individuals are currently detained and are either in removal proceedings or in the process of being removed from the United States in accordance with U.S. immigration law.”

The arrests came amid what the NY Times reported was a five-day Trump administration clampdown that resulted in 10,000 arrests nationwide.

“ICE officials were told that the White House wanted an increase in arrests, according to three officials with knowledge of the conversations,” the paper reported.  “One of the officials said that it was unclear how long the pace could continue, but that ICE officials had been told that 2,000 arrests a day was the new standard for enforcement.”

Based on scenes that have continued to play out on the streets of Red Bank over the past week, the pace appears to be continuing.

Numerous photos and videos posted to social media Tuesday morning show what appeared to be masked federal agents arresting a man on Bridge Avenue next to the NJ Transit train station parking lot and another on Monmouth Street near the station. 

For several days last week, numerous businesses in the Shrewsbury Avenue neighborhood remained closed or operated with doors locked and limited staff as workers stayed home out of fear of being detained. 

On Tuesday, June 30, that tension was heightened by the sight of numerous unmarked cars with fully tinted windows circling the neighborhood and idling for long periods on Shrewsbury Avenue.

The sight of the cars prompted many residents of the largely Latino neighborhood to remain inside, with only a handful of second generation US born residents remaining on the street to monitor the activities. 

One shop owner,  a legal permanent resident who was filming a pair of idling cars, told redbankgreen he had sent his workers home for the day. Others were shut closed altogether. 

A Red Bank Police Department officer sat idling in a marked SUV in the parking lot at the corner of Catherine Street and Shrewsbury Avenue.

A pair of unmarked cars idling curbside that sparked businesses to go into lockdown across the heart of Red Bank’s immigrant community last week. (Photo by Brian Donohue)

When a reporter approached one of the two cars parked near the intersection of Herbert Street, identified himself as a journalist and inquired whether the driver was with ICE, the driver shook her head no and replied, “I’m not even wearing anything,” gesturing toward her torso in an apparent reference to the vests typically worn by ICE agents.

The two cars then drove away. 

In the email to redbankgreen Tuesday, the ICE spokesperson said unauthorized immigrants should self-deport to avoid being swept up in the continued operations. 

“Being in detention is a choice,” the spokesperson wrote.  “We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”