Melt the Ice
New JerseyICE is destabilizing New Jersey communities with raids that are often unsanctioned and unwarranted. These raids have led to sweeping rather than targeted arrests that frequently violate human rights and abusive detention. Though we understand that unlawful residents should be prosecuted, we urge the application of due process during these raids, especially for the lawful residents that are taken in during these sweeps. At the same time, we understand that ICE officials are seeking to comply with federal mandates, and that we are all part of the same community. Thus, we seek to MELT the ICE between residents and those in power, and, through the thaw, seek to reconnect the bridges of understanding. In this way, we can work together to achieve federal mandates in a lawful and orderly manner that comply with our Constitution and international law. Help us achieve this goal by sending the letter below that challenges officials to end human rights violations and make ICE transparent and accountable. Be part of the mission to heal our scars and find justice. It cannot wait.
Subject: Urgent Call to End Illegal ICE Raids and Inhumane Treatment in New Jersey
Dear [ICE Official’s Title],
I am writing as a deeply concerned [resident/community member/faith leader/student/etc.] in New Jersey to urge your office to immediately end the unlawful ICE raids taking place across our state. These operations are violating constitutional rights, often targeting innocent individuals, and inflicting irreparable harm on families and entire communities.
Disturbingly, there have been multiple reports of ICE agents illegally arresting not only undocumented immigrants but also naturalized U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents—individuals who have every right to live and move freely in this country. Productive and active members of society including business owners and respectable community leaders like Celal and Emine Emanet, who have run Jersey Kebab since 2021. These arrests, often carried out without proper warrants, constitute clear violations of the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
These actions are not only unjust—they are tearing apart families, instilling fear in entire neighborhoods, and undermining the fabric of our communities. Reports of unlawful detentions, lack of due process, and cruel conditions in detention centers are deeply disturbing, such as being “treated like dogs,” lack of access to bathrooms leading to urinating and defecating on the floor, and extreme shortages of food. These inappropriate actions fundamentally deny the values of dignity, fairness, and respect that should define our nation.
Immigrant families in New Jersey are vital members of our towns and cities. They contribute as essential workers, small business owners, neighbors, and friends. ICE’s aggressive enforcement tactics, often without clear legal justification or transparency, have created a climate of fear that affects economic activity, schools, places of worship, workplaces, and homes.
We urge you to:
- Immediately cease all ICE raids conducted without judicial warrants or legal justification.
- Ensure that every individual arrested is treated with dignity, given access to legal counsel, and afforded their full rights under the law
- Investigate and hold accountable any ICE officials or detention centers involved in abuse, neglect, or other violations of human rights.
- Release data and documentation on recent ICE actions in New Jersey to allow for independent review and community oversight.
- Consider the long-term social and emotional impacts these practices are having on children, families, and communities at large.
New Jersey’s immigrant communities are integral to the strength and spirit of our state. The fear and trauma caused by these raids are damaging schools, local economies, and public trust in institutions meant to serve and protect us all.
We call on you to act with urgency and integrity to put an end to these violations. History will remember whether leaders in this moment chose cruelty—or compassion and justice.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your City, NJ]
[Your Email or Phone Number, optional]
[Affiliation, optional – e.g., "member of X organization" or "concerned resident”]
John Tsoukaris
Field Office Director, ERO Newark
John.Tsoukaris@ice.dhs.gov
(646) 242-1753
970 Broad Street, 11th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102
Rubin Perez
Deputy Field Office Director, ERO Newark
Rubin.Perez@ice.dhs.gov
Jose Correa
Deputy Field Office Director, ERO Newark
Jose.Correa@ice.dhs.gov
Chief Counsel, OPLA Newark
970 Broad Street, Room 1300, Newark, NJ 07102
OPLA-Newark-DutyAttorney@ice.dhs.gov
(973) 776-5400
Chief Counsel, OPLA Newark (Elizabeth)
Elizabeth Detention Facility, 625 Evans Street, Room 135, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
PLA-Elizabeth-DutyAttorney@ice.dhs.gov
(908) 282-5755
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Newark
Special Agent in Charge (SAC), HSI Newark
620 Frelinghuysen Avenue, Newark, NJ 07114
Newark.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
(973) 776-5500