MORRISTOWN - Flavio Malo says early mornings are normally pretty busy at his bakery on Speedwell Avenue.

"A line out the door," he says of a business that advertises "Empanadas & More."

But not this Monday. A few minutes before 8 a.m, there were no customers.

Understandable in this mostly Latino section of this historic town.

Just 24 hours before, ICE agents raided and reportedly detained up to 10 people, some of whom were doing laundry at the Willmar Laundromat just across the street.

"Bad for business, bad for people," said Malo, who is of Ecuadorian descent.

That seems like an understatement.

The ICE action on Sunday morning rocked Morristown and the reverberations may continue for some time.

Tim Dougherty, who was just sworn in to his fifth term as mayor, condemned the raid Sunday afternoon.

On Monday, he said in a more formal statement:

“Morristown is a community built by generations of immigrants, and our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. 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.”

The mayor stressed that local police were not involved in the action and, in fact, didn't know about it in advance.

To that end, a woman at the bakery said town police are supportive of the immigrant community. As is the local Catholic church, St. Margaret's.

Father Duberney Villamizer, the church pastor, offered support for that community.

"The church is with them," he said in a YouTube video.

He spoke of people in the community being scared. The pastor said they can stay at home, but he also reassured them, "the church is a safe place for them to be."

Dougherty's statement also said that "municipal services, community organizations, and nonprofit partners are available to support residents who may be affected or distressed by the incident. The Town of Morristown
encourages residents with concerns or who need assistance to reach out to local community organizations and trusted legal resources. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available."

Beyond that, three bills that would offer greater protection to immigrants were endorsed last week by Legislative committees. If passed by both the full Assembly and Senate, they will go to Phil Murphy, who will have a chance to sign them before he leaves office next week. Incoming Gov. Mikie Sherrill was non-committal about the bills when asked about them during the campaign.

Back on Speedwell Avenue, an employee at a grocery store said some of the people detained were her customers.

The laundromat in question was open for business Monday morning.

There were no customers.