'People Are Panicking': Mayor Addresses Reports Of ICE Agents In Paterson

PATERSON, NJ — Paterson officials are looking to quell residents' fears, after reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were conducting searches in the city over the weekend.

After President Donald Trump took office last Monday, ICE agents have been initiating raids and enforcement campaigns across the United States, and throughout New Jersey.

Mayor Andre Sayegh said he was told that immigration officials were present at a Wayne Avenue barbershop, and a pharmacy at the corner of Madison and 21st avenues over the weekend. This has created fear among the immigrant population in Paterson, he said.

"There are people who are panicking," Sayegh said, adding that a local priest called him and said parishioners have been "crying tears of fear."

Sayegh said people have reportedly been afraid to go to work, to take their children to school, and even to visit their doctor's office.

The mayor said he would ask U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for more information during a press conference Monday alongside the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ). He did not have details about if anyone was detained or arrested.

Sayegh also advised residents to be aware of their rights when they encounter immigration officials, and not give in to fear.

"We will not stand in the way of proper investigation, but individuals must know their rights and the rule of law must be followed," he said.

A Paterson Police spokesperson said the department could not confirm if ICE conducted operations in the city, citing a 2018 directive from the New Jersey Attorney General's office aimed at strengthening trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.

"Although officers should assist federal immigration authorities when required to do so by law, they should also be mindful that aiding above and beyond those requirements threatens to blur the distinctions between state and federal actors and between federal immigration law and state criminal law," spokesman Rob Rowan said. "It also risks undermining the trust between the law enforcement community and the public."

Patch has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for clarification.

The Paterson School District also issued a statement saying they had not received any reports of ICE activity or arrests involving students, as of Friday.

"The district is committed to protecting the rights of all students, regardless of immigration status," officials said. "We are actively working to provide resources and support to any families who may be affected by ICE activity."

A raid in Newark last week drew sharp criticism from Mayor Ras Baraka and New Jersey's two U.S. senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim. Police have also confirmed ICE operations in Asbury Park and several other New Jersey cities.