McIver to Trump after ICE Raid in Newark: ‘We Mean Business Here in NJ’

FULL REMARKS: McIver Speaks Out Against ICE Raid in Newark
“I want to make it clear to Trump and his administration that we mean business here in New Jersey.”
Watch McIver’s remarks here
NEWARK, N.J. – In a press conference this morning, Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) spoke out against the reported ICE raid that took place in Newark, New Jersey, yesterday. Alongside Mayor Ras Baraka, Rep. Rob Menendez, local elected officials, and immigrant rights groups, McIver vowed to keep fighting in the face of this local raid and Donald Trump’s broad, anti-immigrant crackdown.
McIver reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday evening to obtain more information on how this raid that targeted immigrants, citizens and a U.S. veteran was able to take place without a warrant. She has not yet received a response.
Video of the press conference is here and a full transcript of McIver’s remarks is below:
Good morning, Mayor Baraka, City Council members and all of the elected officials that are joined here today, all of the organizations, and to the press.
I wish we were all gathered here under better circumstances but unfortunately we’re not.
The event that unfolded yesterday was despicable.
As we’ve heard over and over again, ICE agents entered a business without a warrant, threatened community members, and harassed and held immigrants, citizens and even a veteran of our nation’s military.
My office reached out to ICE demanding answers on how exactly yesterday’s raid was allowed to take place without warrant and without justification—still no answers.
They barged into our city to detain our neighbors.
Trump’s attack on immigrant communities is now at our front door.
Trump has literally been the president for less than 100 hours, and in those hours he has signed a ton of executive orders, some that take aim at birthright citizenship, pause refugee admissions, reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and promise aggressive immigration crackdowns, like the one that happened here yesterday.
And, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has promised to remove protected status from “sensitive” areas, to give ICE unlimited access to operate at schools, churches and other locations that used to be protected.
This is cruel.
Some of these executive orders are unlawful and our state, advocacy groups and elected officials are already fighting back in the courts to protect our communities.
Raids and attacks like what we witnessed in Newark yesterday did nothing to make people feel safer.
People should not have to fear that going to church or school will result in their arrest or deportation.
Parents who have babies in our country should not be told their child who is born here is not a citizen.
That goes against our Constitution.
I understand the fear coming from our community, and I want to make it clear: I stand with you. Me and Congressman Menendez, we stand with you. [With] Mayor Baraka, we stand with you. Our councilmembers and all of our state delegation folks who are here today, we stand with you.
We have to know our rights, and stand together to protect ourselves and keep each other safe in these times. My office is here to help.
Just yesterday—as news of the raid broke—I hosted an immigrant rights townhall where we spoke to over 5,700 constituents.
We have community resources on our website. And we can help with casework inquiries with federal agencies like Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Bot Congressman Menendez from the 8th and me from the 10th, we’re here to help.
The months ahead will not be easy. There are some challenging times ahead of us. Reports of ICE operations like yesterday’s are popping up all across the country.
But I am with you every step of the way.
Many Republicans in Congress—and Congressman Menendez can attest to this—they support these disgusting Trump polices.
As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I will see the bulk of these anti-immigrant bills this Congress, and I will reject these bills. I will not back down from this fight.
I will advocate for the protection of immigrants in the 10th District and nationwide.
I want to make it clear to Trump and his administration that we mean business here in New Jersey, and we will not tolerate his hateful policies.
We will fight back together to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. And we will win.
Thank you.
###
What crap , legal immigrants support this , its a crack down on illegal immigrants . Another political stunt by a not very intelligent politician. Then they wonder why they lost. The veteran was never ever detained .
Tone deaf. Read the room.
HY Mciver, President Trump, and Tom Homan REALLY mean business!
Funny when it’s a democrat president applying executive orders on red states the cry is ” states rights come second to federal authorities and fall in line” but when the shoe is on the other foot disruption of the voters will is ” noble “and executive orders are framed as over reaching,the hypocrisy is too much
Rights right wrong is wrong we all Hafe abundantly by laws of United States and laws of land is if you wanna come oveff red here then come legal it’s that simple
@TamikaSanders I wasn’t there so I’m open to what the facts are, however if we have a number of Senators in court asking why a raid was conducted WITHOUT a warrant, how can legal immigrants support that? Also, what information do you have to know that the veteran was not detained during this raid? I’m open to discuss this with any of you…
@TeresaBragg: Please rephrase your comment so we can all understand what is it exactly you’re trying to say…
@ChristopherNolan: As I understand Obama still holds the record for deportation of the most illegal immigrants, however what you did not hear was him ordering ICE raids on US soil WITHOUT a warrant. I believe you should be concerned about that IF in fact it is true. Also Mr. Nolan are you Native American? If not, then by the Executive order that says babies born in the US to illegal immigrants are not considered citizens would put you and your ancestors in a very precarious situation!!
Be careful hair weaves aren’t allowed in the Federal lock up, you obstruct ICE to defend rapists and murderers and that’s where she’s headed hahaha
Democrats support rapists and murderers.
Where’s the problem ? You have nothing to hide then there’s nothing to hide ,most received a summons to appear,and provide necessary. Proof
The people who were attacked in Newark by the Federal government were workers with families. They’re not rapists and murderers. Period. We are tired of arguing with people who aren’t arguing in good faith, with people who look at the blue sky and tell us it’s orange. While three or four of you sitting in Minsk are trying to make it seem that you are the majority, those of us who believe in America and the Constitution are out planning and doing what needs to be done to protect our fellow Americans. We will not lose.
Democrats want to keep rapists and murderers here because they think it will mean more votes for them
I don’t care if you areca R or a D! Storming into a grade school in Chicago was unacceptable. The school have EVERY RIGHT to protect CHILDREN. I’m sure all the little kids would have been terrified of armed MEN, WITHOUT A WARRANT! The school first priority is to protect our children. They will not be used as political prisoners! Trump is seriously a sick and pathetic old dude trying to cause as much damage he can before he runs out of time!