PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11) -- Fear of deportation in Paterson, New Jersey, is impacting school attendance.
Border czar Tom Homan said nothing will stop ICE agents from coming after undocumented immigrants.
When Noelia was walking to pick up one of her kids from school on Monday afternoon, there was only one thing she had on her mind. She wondered where her three children would go if she is detained by immigration officials and deported back to Honduras.
Noelia came to Paterson 18 years ago after crossing the southern border. Her sons, ages 7, 12, and 17, were all born in the United States. Their father is also undocumented.
“I don’t know, that is why I’m nervous. It’s hard, I don’t have plans,” Noelia said.
Noelia’s sentiment resonates with many families in Paterson who are in the same situation following two reported ICE raids on Sunday. Homan, the border czar, said the raids will only intensify.
“We are going to keep doing what we are doing. Every day we are going to be out there. We are going to prioritize criminals, criminal threats, and national security threats. Then we are going to start opening to others,” said Homan.
Noelia agrees that criminals should be sent back to where they came from, but she said someone like her who works as a housekeeper to provide for her family deserves a chance to remain here.
When asked why she hasn't been able to get her legal status in order, Noelia said, "Everything is about money, because it is expensive."
Rosa Feliz, the owner of a multiservice agency, said customers have not stopped coming in and calling with immigration-related questions.
“People are calling to see if there are any letters, what can I do if something happens to me if I get deported? A document I can say I’m going to leave my child with an aunt, a friend, so that way if I get deported maybe you can bring that child to me to my country,” said Feliz.
Elected officials in Paterson described how even documented residents are on edge.
“I got people calling me, 'Should I carry my resident card, my birth certificate, my U.S. citizen certificate?'" said Luis Velez, a member of the Paterson City Council.
“We are also receiving reports that people are not going to work, that children are not going to school,” said Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh.
When PIX11 News asked Noelia about her three children and President Donald Trump not believing they have the right to U.S. citizenship, she asked the president to really think about how all the kids who were born here have a life here and this is all they know.
Latinos make up about 63% of the population in Paterson. The city's public schools are asking parents to remain calm and to not stop bringing their children to school.
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