Federal immigration agents are firing back at a New Jersey congresswoman after she accused them of conducting a covert raid in Trenton last week, calling her statements “false” and “fearmongering.”
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark Acting Field Office Director Arthur J. Wilson Jr. said the arrests on Feb. 20 were carried out by federal partners acting on a court-ordered criminal warrant, not ICE. The target, Eduardo Reyes, a Guatemalan national, was wanted for aggravated assault, weapons offenses, assault by auto, leaving the scene of an accident, and endangering the victim.
Wilson said U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman’s post claiming ICE “covered security cameras” and “detained multiple individuals without a warrant” at an auto repair shop is “spreading fear and confusion.” He said ICE was notified of other individuals illegally present in the U.S. and took two into custody: Cristian Moreno-Posso, a Colombian with a final removal order from October 2024, and Jorge Luis Lemus Urliz, a Guatemalan who entered the country without inspection.
Wilson accused “sanctuary politicians” of misrepresenting ICE’s legal authority and undermining public trust. “Our ICE officers and federal partners deserve recognition for their commitment to public safety, not baseless criticism,” he said.
The statement comes amid a surge in threats against ICE personnel. The agency reports an 8,000% increase in death threats and a 1,421% spike in assaults on officers. Wilson said such misrepresentation is part of a “coordinated campaign to incite violence and hatred” against ICE.
Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ICE says it is expanding operations with a 120% increase in workforce and funding for new detention centers. The agency says it remains committed to upholding the law and safeguarding communities.
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