Hundreds attend youth-led Red Bank rally to protest ICE raids

Jean Mikle

RED BANK — They waved signs — "ICE is not welcome here," "End detention and deportation," "Arrest gangs, not legal neighbors" — and chanted: "No justice, no peace, no ICE in our streets."

Hundreds of people gathered at Red Bank's train station to call for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be abolished.

The rally, which also was slated to include a march from the train station to Riverside Gardens Park, was organized by youth groups that have grown increasingly concerned with ICE enforcement and its affect on immigrant families in New Jersey and nationwide.

"A lot of young people are willing to stand up," said Julie Flores-Castillo, Youth Organizer of the American Friends Service Committee's Immigration Rights Program in New Jersey. "It's something that affects their teachers, their neighbors, their family members and their friends."

Two teens from Red Bank — who did not wish to give their last names — said they needed to come and raise their voices.

Mackenzey, 17, said she wanted to "voice my opinion and take a stand. I don't want our future to end up with what transpired in Germany. I see similarities. We have to take a stand."

"I just really wanted to help draw attention to this issue," said Stacy, 16, said. "My family is scared...They stopped one of my family members. They weren't arrested, but it was a shock. People shouldn't be scared to go outside, to go to the store, to go to school."

ICE raids and arrests have taken place in Red Bank and other Monmouth County towns over the past several weeks. One of those arrested was well-known landscaper Ricardo Paz, who was detained in early January and released about a week ago. He appeared at the Feb. 28 rally to thank the crowd for their support.

"Congress get a spine, do your job," was the sign Martin Corbo of Red Bank held up at the Saturday rally. "I think Congress isn't doing their job," Corbo said. "Maybe they are the ones who should be deported."

His friend, Julius Borros of Little Silver, said he was happy to see so many young people rallying against ICE arrests and deportations.

"These kids are our future," Borros said, holding a sign that read, "Democracy, not Dictator."

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. said he came to the Red Bank rally because he is "totally opposed to what ICE and Trump are doing."

"Trump said he was going after criminals and gangsters, but they are arresting the people next door," Pallone said, adding that he would not support anymore funding for ICE.

Earlier this month, the federal Justice Department sued New Jersey after Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued an executive order that bans ICE from state property without a judicial warrant.

On Feb. 27, Sherrill bashed the Department of Homeland Security's purchase of a 474,000-square-foot warehouse for a planned immigration detention center in Roxbury, saying the state would "assess all options" to protect the town's infrastructure.

More than 1,000 people attended a protest in Roxbury Township on Feb. 28, bashing ICE's plans to house up to 1,500 immigrant detainees in a warehouse the Department of Homeland Security purchased earlier this month.

Jean Mikle covers Toms River, Seaside Heights and several other Ocean County towns. She's also passionate about Asbury Park's music scene. You can reach her at [email protected].