PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11) -- Residents in New Jersey cities reported observing ICE agents operating in cities, including Paterson and Union City on Sunday.
Mariano Gonzalez tells PIX11 News he was making a delivery at Madison and 21st Avenues when two unmarked vehicles parked next to him.
"A couple of officers had the police badge on their velcro vest and there were two other guys that had the jacket that said ICE on them," said Gonzalez.
He added that he spotted around 7 or 8 agents. Some officers reportedly entered through a building side door and the rest remained outside surveilling the area.
Gonzalez said the agents were fully geared and armed. "You can see their guns on their sides." He says that part of Paterson is especially busy on Sundays but shortly after the agents arrived, it cleared out.
Something similar was observed in Union City Sunday afternoon. An eyewitness who preferred to stay anonymous told PIX11 News that agents arrived at a building in the area of 18th Street and Union Avenue.
"They try to get inside the building," he said. "I don't know if they are looking for someone specific."
The witness said he didn't see the agents arrest anyone but said he spotted them walking around and surveilling the neighborhood. "When you see people like that on the street, we are scared. We don't know if they can take anyone or just specific people."
Meanwhile, Gonzalez, who is an American citizen, says he is especially cautious after hearing about the incident in Newark where ICE agents arrested a Puerto Rican U.S. Army veteran. Two others were detained after 10 or 12 ICE agents raided a seafood store.
He said he didn't want to take a chance and rushed immediately out of Paterson. "Now it's not even a worry if I already have papers, it's more like I just fit the description."
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh confirmed with PIX11 News that he received a report about ICE in Paterson.
"We are genuinely concerned," Sayegh told PIX11 News. "We are a welcoming city. Quite frankly, there has to be an appropriate procedure. If they have a warrant, we understand. If they don’t, people have to know their rights."
In New York City, the Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs has updated its website to offer tips for undocumented people so they understand their rights if immigration officials approach them.
ICE posted an update Sunday night about their nationwide operations, claiming 956 people were arrested. That's the highest number of daily arrests since Jan. 23 when the operations started.
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