High School Student Doing Laundry Among Those Detained In Morris Co. ICE Raid

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A Morristown High School senior was among a group of people taken during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation on Sunday, officials said.

The 18-year-old student, Juan Daniel Mendoza, was one of at least seven people who were rounded up near Speedwell Avenue Sunday morning, according to his family.

Mendoza’s brother, Jose, told Patch that Juan entered the country alone as a child and traveled to Morristown to find his family years ago. He's been a student at Morristown High School since 2024, where he maintains a 4.2 GPA, his family says.

“On Sunday, January 11, (Juan) went to do his laundry. When I heard what happened, I went to look for him. I found his clothes, but I could not find him,” Jose told Patch in a translated statement. “They sent me a video of when he was arrested, and I felt very bad because in the video, he looked scared. I felt devastated because he is my younger brother, and I have always felt responsible for protecting and caring for him, and they took him.”

Jose added that Juan told him that ICE agents hurt him during the apprehension. His family also said that Juan has no criminal record.

Juan, a Honduran national, had an upcoming hearing in front of a judge where he would seek Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, according to his brother.

Now, Mendoza’s family, with the help of members of the community, is seeking an attorney to help get him out of the ICE detention center in Elizabeth.

The family met with one lawyer who cited the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, saying “a child’s lack of valid entry documents does not mandate removal and does not bar the child from eventually obtaining lawful status.”

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status can be given to immigrants under the age of 21.

The attorney also mentioned the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, adding that “turning 18 does not erase the legal protections that are attached when a child enters the country alone.”

Members of the community have launched a GoFundMe to raise money for an immigration lawyer to take on Mendoza's case.

Meanwhile, hundreds of concerned parents have signed a "call to action" petition for Morris School District officials to address ICE activity in the greater Morris area. The petition calls for tighter security measures in and around schools, the expansion of social and emotional support services for students and staff, and more.

Many of those who signed the petition are expected to appear at the Morris School District's Board of Education meeting tonight, according to one organizer.

Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty said neither he nor his administration knew of the operation beforehand, and expressed “deep concern” over the situation. The mayor confirmed with NJ.com that a high school student had been detained.

“Morristown is a community built by generations of immigrants, and our diversity is one of our greatest strengths,” said Dougherty. “Actions like this create fear and uncertainty for families who contribute every day to our schools, businesses, and neighborhoods. I want our immigrant residents to know that the Town of Morristown stands with you and will continue to advocate for dignity, fairness, and respect for all who call this community home.”

Dougherty added that he is looking for immigration attorneys who could help those arrested Sunday morning.

“Any immigration attorney in our community, or outside our community, that wants to help us and assist the people who were picked up, swept up, in this raid, and have the ability to do it pro bono, we’d be extremely grateful to our community,” he said. “The people that were picked up probably don’t have the means to pay for immigration attorneys, but they need to know their rights and get as much protection as humanly possible.”

The mayor added that any attorneys interested in doing pro bono work with these immigrants can call his office at 973-292-6629.

Patch has reached out to ICE for a complete list of who was detained during the Morristown raid and what grounds they were arrested on, but has not received a response.