Immigration groups in N.J. on high alert as ICE reportedly prepares to conduct mass raids this weekend

Immigration organizations and advocates in New Jersey are holding training sessions and readying response teams in light of reports that federal authorities will be conducting nationwide raids to arrest thousands of undocumented immigrants this weekend.

The New York Times reported Thursday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is moving forward with targeted raids beginning Sunday of least 2,000 immigrants who have been previously ordered deported.

The Times reported that the raids will be conducted in at least 10 major U.S. cities, but did not specify which cities. A list of potential targeted cities circulated by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., last month, as part of his presidential campaign, did not list any New Jersey communities.

However, immigration advocates in New Jersey said they need to be prepared.

“We haven’t heard anything specifically in New Jersey, but we are on alert,” said Hera Mir, communications and operations associate for New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “Our members are on alert because the way ICE has done this in the past, I think everyone could be affected.”

The reported raids are an extension of President Donald Trump’s June promise to begin deporting "millions of illegal aliens.” The raids had been postponed “partly because of resistance among officials at his own immigration agency,” according to The Times.

But now they are reportedly back on.

Faith in New Jersey, a statewide organization of 174 congregations, said the organization had a conference call with all their undocumented members earlier this week to remind them of their rights and resources that are available to them, said Jorge Torres, the lead organizer for the group.

Any raids this weekend could also affect those who have not been ordered deported. The Times reported the raids will include “collateral” deportations, meaning authorities may detain immigrants who were not the target of the raid.

Torres said they have activated their emergency response team, which provides support and various resources to those who may be detained by ICE.

“We don’t want to take any risks,” said Torres, who was previously undocumented for seven years. “We don’t want to take anything for granted.”

Brian Lozano, who is the lead organizer for Wind of the Spirit, a Morristown-based immigration advocacy group, said his organization has been flooded with calls recently to give their “Know Your Rights” training sessions to groups across the state.

He said even though he is unaware of any New Jersey communities that will be targeted by these raids over the weekend, ICE has conducted unannounced raids throughout the state before.

“We are going to treat it how we always treat it,” Lozano said. "Like it is an emergency.”

He noted the training sessions are a key way to protect undocumented New Jersey families. The interactive training sessions teach undocumented immigrants their various rights, like ICE agents are not legally allowed to forcibly enter their home.

“We are going to be on alert and making sure people are fighting back and know their rights,” said Sara Cullinane, of Make the Road New Jersey.

Even if the raids do not target undocumented immigrants in New Jersey this weekend, Lozano said the threat is enough to force people to deviate from their daily routines.

There are an estimated 475,000 undocumented immigrants in New Jersey.

“It is a paralyzing fear for our community to the point where immigrant communities won’t even go to (English as a Second Language) classes in trusted churches or local community clinics,” Lozano said. "It is paralyzing fear.”

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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