Protests Erupt in New Jersey Following Major ICE Raid and Worker Arrests

Community Outrage After ICE Raid

• 🚨 Demonstrators gathered in Edison, New Jersey, to protest the arrest of 20 workers during an ICE raid at the Alba Wine and Spirits Warehouse.
• 🗣️ Advocates described the raid, which occurred on July 8th, as an "act of terror" on the community, utilizing border patrol-level tactics.
• 😥 Reverend Seth Coale shared a harrowing account of being thrown to the floor and experiencing physical marks during the raid.

Worker Detainment and Deportation

• ⛓️ The 20 detained workers, from various South American countries, are reportedly being held in inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall in Newark.
• ✈️ ICE and Customs and Border Patrol confirmed the detention of over 100 individuals, with 20 arrests and five immediate deportations.
• 📄 Families presented documentation like birth certificates and work permits, but advocates claim ICE was not interested in reviewing them.

Alba Wines and Spirits Statement

• 🏢 Alba Wines and Spirits stated that the arrested individuals were temporary workers hired through third-party staffing agencies.
• ✅ The company maintains contractual obligations to comply with laws, including verifying employment eligibility.
• ❤️ Alba expressed sympathy for the workers and their families, acknowledging them as hardworking individuals essential to the country's infrastructure.

Calls for Accountability and Legal Aid

• ✊ Activists are calling to "abolish ICE" and hold warehouse owners accountable for profiting from employees.
• ⏳ Advocates are racing against time to raise funds and secure legal aid for the detainees ahead of a mass immigration hearing on Monday.
• ⚖️ The difficulty in finding available immigration attorneys is a significant challenge due to widespread immigration actions nationwide.