News Americas January 30, 2025
In a joint letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE Director, the lawmakers expressed grave concerns about recent ICE actions.
“We write to express our profound concern regarding recent operations carried out by ICE in New Jersey and Puerto Rico,” the letter reads. “Reports from media in both regions highlight reckless action by ICE agents, which have caused considerable distress within communities. These actions have alarmingly sown fear among residents, disrupted businesses, and raised serious concerns about the behavior of federal agencies and the preservation of due process rights.”
The letter details two recent operations:
.On January 23, 2025, ICE agents raided a small business in Newark, New Jersey, detaining individuals, including a Puerto Rican military veteran, without presenting a warrant.
.On January 26, 2025, ICE agents conducted an operation in Barrio Obrero, Santurce, Puerto Rico, where at least three Dominican nationals were detained after questioning in predominantly Dominican neighborhoods.
The lawmakers have outlined several pressing questions for DHS, including: How many people were detained during these operations, and what is their current status?, Did ICE agents have warrants for those apprehended, and what was the legal basis for questioning individuals who were not identified as targets? What criteria and methodology were used to identify individuals for questioning? Were race or ethnicity factors in these decisions?
They added How many U.S. citizens, including Puerto Ricans, were detained or questioned? Were veterans involved? and What measures are in place to prevent wrongful detentions and limit community disruptions during enforcement actions?
Espaillat and Hernández emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, calling on DHS to investigate these operations thoroughly. They argue that such actions undermine trust, raise questions about due process, and unnecessarily disrupt communities.
“The behavior of federal agencies must uphold the rights of all individuals, particularly in communities where trust in government is already fragile,” the lawmakers stated.
