Jersey City, NJ – Local leaders in New Jersey are raising concerns after federal immigration officers carried out arrests near the border of Jersey City and Hoboken early Sunday, according to city officials and eyewitnesses. The activity, which unfolded without advance notice to municipal authorities, has unsettled residents and prompted warnings to immigrant communities.
Officials said the detentions occurred around the 9th Street Light Rail Station, a busy transit hub serving both cities. Jake Ephros, a Jersey City councilmember, said he went to the station after hearing from constituents about an earlier arrest and then witnessed another person being taken into custody.
“This is incredibly upsetting,” Ephros said, describing the area as a long-established Latino neighborhood. “People feel targeted, and that fear is real.”
Ephros recorded a video showing masked officers handcuffing a man and moving toward an elevator. When Ephros attempted to follow, he said he was denied access and took another elevator up. A second clip shows the officers leaving the scene in unmarked vehicles.
In the footage, Ephros asks whether the officers had a warrant or were searching for a specific individual. One agent replied that they were with ICE and insisted a warrant was not required, telling Ephros that nothing he said would stop the operation.
Authorities have not disclosed how many people were detained.
Hoboken officials also responded to reports from the station. Emily Jabbour said she and Joe Quintero visited the area and spoke with witnesses who described seeing at least two people taken away in unmarked vehicles. As of Sunday night, the city had received no additional details about the scope of the enforcement action.
Jabbour confirmed that Hoboken police were neither notified in advance nor involved. “I understand how alarming this is, particularly for immigrant residents,” she said in a statement. “Our city remains committed to supporting everyone who calls Hoboken home, regardless of immigration status.”
In Jersey City, James Solomon said his office verified that federal immigration enforcement occurred in the area and urged residents to be aware of their legal rights.
“To our immigrant neighbors,” Solomon said, “you are not required to open your door without a judge-signed warrant. You have the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and you should not sign documents you do not understand.”
City officials in both municipalities said they are seeking more information from federal authorities as residents continue to ask questions about the arrests and their implications.
U.S. Immigration News | By The Midtown Times Staff
