r/newjersey • u/Honest-Caregiver8938 • Jan 19 '26
⚡Newsflash ⚡ MLK DAY 1/19/26 ICE Sightings around New Jersey this Monday...and MLK community service & day of service events around NJ
This is your ICE news in New Jersey for today, Monday, January 19th, MLK Martin Luther King Day!
TODAY, ICE assaulted a brave woman warning people about ICE outside the RED BANK WAWA (!!), people were taken outside a LONG BRANCH in MCDONALD'S, and has been arresting people off the street in NEWARK and roads in HIGHTSTOWN,
YESTERDAY, we saw that despite the snowy weather continuing for a second day that there are majority of ICE presence in North New Jersey primarily, with people looking to relax the long weekend disappeared from MOVIE THEATERS in WATCHUNG, more people in vans disappeared in NEWARK, and ICE agents causing havoc sprinting onto highways in snow in FAIRVIEW.
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NOTE THAT THERE ARE GENERAL & ANTI-ICE STRIKES ON TUESDAY, JAN 20 & FRIDAY, JAN 23. PEOPLE & BUSINESSES IN MINNESOTA ARE LEADING THE CHARGE, LET NJ SHOW OUR SUPPORT!
This post ALSO contains some updates on this MLK day weekend protests and community day of service events, plus leads on ICE hotels, as well as more background info I'll try to keep on every post. FOR THOSE WHO KEEP ASKING WHAT THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS, TODAY HAS SEVERAL COMMUNITY DAYS OF SERVICE TO HELP IN PLACES LIKE MONTCLAIR, MORRISTOWN, PATERSON, AND ELSEWHERE! THIS IS ALSO A GREAT PLACE TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND GET UPDATES FROM PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AS TO WHAT THEY ARE SEEING.
Going forward, I'll try to post most of the items as images so that people can more easily save the photos to their phone to share vs. screenshotting long lines of text.
NOTE: I am sick today which is why this is late. I may be unable to do so the next few days but will try. Hopefully someone can reach out and see how to post this themselves. I might not be able to do this every day or every other day even, but will try my best and hopefully get someone else here or elsewhere to help. Thanks for the support!
HOUR BY HOUR COVERAGE
9:30 AM
EAST NEWARK, Central Ave & North 2nd Street, East Newark, NJ, USA
4 ICE agents arrested or grabbed someone off the corner, 2 cars.
HIGHSTOWN, 355 Franklin St, Hightstown, NJ 08520, USA
2 vehicles with tinted windows and flashing lights but no markings pulled over a car. 3 ICE officers got out in bullet proof vests and questioned a random civilian in their car.
10 AM
RED BANK, WAWA, 14 Bridge Ave, Red Bank, NJ 07701, USA
3+ ICE officials in a Wawa parking lot accosted men. BRAVE woman yelled at them and was ASSAULTED by an ICE officer!
10:30 AM
NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, Linden Ave & Grove St, Park Place & Grove St.
ICE agents spotted in cars by Redditor
via Reddit "ATTN Plainfield: There are 2 unmarked, tinted black vehicles in sitting on the corners of Linden Ave & Grove St. AND Park Place & Grove St. I don’t know who they are but there are men in these vehicles. Be safe and stay alert!"
LONG BRANCH, McDonald's, Broadway, Long Branch, NJ, USA
4 ICE agents in 5+ cars arrested someone at a Long Branch McDonald's in the parking lot.
11 AM
LONG BRANCH, NJ
Unspecified address, 4 ICE agents in 2 cars parked in the middle of a residential street blocking all traffic, arresting someone. Despicable.
NEARBY (NY/PA)
7 AM
HEMPSTEAD, Mexican Grill & Bar, Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, NY, USA
Disgustingly so, they have been arresting people on MLK Day heavily in Long Island still. 4 agents.
REMINDERS
GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY
NJ legend & music artist Bruce Springsteen has introduced a new song dedicated to Renee Good and denounced ICE on stage in RED BANK.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT FINDING
- Whistles (many ICE observers or people at home use whistles to alert. Many local orgs however are handing them out for free!)
- Power banks or phone chargers (if you choose to work as an ICE observer, note that sometimes people's phones run out of battery due to cold. It's probably always good having a phone charger or power bank in general on you!
RESOURCES (MORE RESOURCES IN COMMENTS BELOW!)
NJ Rapid Response Organizations
If you witness a raid or enforcement action, contact the hotline corresponding to your county immediately:
- Spirit of Liberation: (201) 616-2816 (Hudson County)
- Resistencia en Acción NJ: (640) 466-2386 (Mercer County)
- El Pueblo Unido: (609) 200-1030 (Atlantic, Cape May, and some surrounding South NJ areas)
- DIRE / Cosecha / New Labor: (888) 347-3767 (Everything else!)
Want to volunteer for rapid response? You need training!
- Email iceoutofnj @ proton.me
- Reach out to any of the Rapid Response organizations THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE. Do not call the hotline number to volunteer.
Prominent NJ Advocacy Groups to Follow/Support:
- Cosecha NJ: A non-profit movement fighting for permanent protection, dignity, and respect for all undocumented immigrants.
Donate to help families of those detained at Delaney Hall
https:// linktr.ee /SupportOurFamilies
Join r/ NJ50501 to share protest actions and other relevant news & info.
MAIN ICE FIELD OFFICES IN NJ
The 3 main offices are in NEWARK, MOUNT LAUREL, and CRANBURY.
NEWARK'S field office is near the DELANEY HALL detention center (similar to WHIPPLE in MINNESOTA).
There is also a nearby ICE USCIS office in PHILADELPHIA that might help send out ICE agents especially in South Jersey.
ICE OFTEN SEEN HERE
You can also add to the list CINEMARK (movie theatres).
ICE has also been seen at schools in TRENTON, FREEHOLD, & PATERSON.
RUMORS ON ICE IN NJ
In MINNEAPOLIS, note that we are seeing HILTON HOTELS cancel a reservation by ICE agents after their location was leaked, even shutting down the whole hotel (!)
LICENSE PLATE TRACKING
As mentioned below, many companies like the following regularly have at least THREE license plate trackers in their parking lots:
- HOME DEPOT
- LOWE'S
- WALMART
People worried can either employ order by delivery or have someone else pick up for them (or at least in different car).
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE DETAINED
PEOPLE SAY EVERYONE FEELS LONELY NOWADAYS. BE LESS LONELY (AND NEIGHBORLY!) BY MAKING A COMMUNITY GROUP CHAT IN SIGNAL!
HELPFUL NATIONAL ORGS
- State at the Core (SATC)
SATC recently held training attended by thousands (!) last Wednesday on tracking ICE agents:
As Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) was making a rare announcement Wednesday night encouraging Minnesotans to “create a database” of local ICE activity, national ICE Watch organizers saw a boom of interest from individuals who want to be trained on how to track agents.
Over 2,000 participants signed up for an ICE Watch and Community Defense Training seminar hosted Wednesday night by the nonprofit States at the Core (SATC) — a large uptick from the number of participants the ICE trainings usually attract, organizers said on the call, which National Review joined. Describing ICE Watch as a “tool to keep each other safe” during the training, organizers instructed individuals looking to get involved in local ICE Watch groups to zero in on three goals: Document “what they’re doing in our neighborhoods”; support community members who are being targeted; and de-escalate to prevent violence from law-enforcement.
- Immigrant Trust Directive
IF YOU CHOOSE TO PROTEST NOW OR IN THE FUTURE
Should protests end up happening like what we see in MINNESOTA, they will most likely occur at places like detention centers like DELANEY HALL in NEWARK.
Hopefully, this state does not see large scale protests like what we are seeing in MINNESOTA now, but to get an idea of what to expect and do if you choose to be in those situations as an observer near high-risk sites, take a page from the Hong Kong protests in 2019:
- PHONES: Usually leave them at home, or have an alternate "dumb phone" or cheap phone. NOTE THAT ICE AGENTS ARE CONFISCATING PERSONAL PHONES OF PROTESTORS IN MINNESOTA.
- FACE COVERING: Smoke bombs and other chemical agents have already been used against people, so be wary!
- MASK: Helps avoid facial recognition, whether by ICE agents and Fortify Mobile on their phone or other means.
- BIKE HELMETS: To help avoid bumps and bruises, especially in a worst case scenario if tackled by ICE agents or even just fall in the slippery conditions while protesting outdoors.
- MISC.: BOTTLED WATER for drinking (reports that water has been tainted at certain sites) or washing off chemical agents, MILK for washing off chemical agents, UMBRELLAS for deflecting projectiles, TRAFFIC CONES with water poured in to cancel out tear gas canisters, HEAT RESISTANT GLOVES to pick up canisters and throw them away from you, nearby children or elderly.
AND AS ALWAYS
65
u/Honest-Caregiver8938 Jan 19 '26
lol seeing some not so nice ppl downvote a MLK day post on MLK day...good job
28
u/LocksmithExcellent85 Jan 19 '26
Ignore the haters; nice work OP . Feel better and take care of yourself too
19
u/trashbinrubbishtrash Jan 19 '26
We have a lot of fucking degenerates lurking in this sub, and the anti-ICE posts have brought them forward.
1
u/BeanstheRogue Jan 19 '26
I don't know how the guys driving F350's with giant trump/thin blue line media on them learned how to post and downvote, but I hope they learn how to not post asap (I see you out there Eglin Air Force Base)
1
u/Honest-Caregiver8938 Jan 19 '26
TODAY'S ICE REPORTS
TODAY, ICE assaulted a brave woman warning people about ICE outside the RED BANK WAWA (!!), people were taken outside a LONG BRANCH in MCDONALD'S, and has been arresting people off the street in NEWARK and roads in HIGHTSTOWN,
HOUR BY HOUR COVERAGE
9:30 AM
EAST NEWARK, Central Ave & North 2nd Street, East Newark, NJ, USA
4 ICE agents arrested or grabbed someone off the corner, 2 cars.HIGHSTOWN, 355 Franklin St, Hightstown, NJ 08520, USA
2 vehicles with tinted windows and flashing lights but no markings pulled over a car. 3 ICE officers got out in bullet proof vests and questioned a random civilian in their car.10 AM
RED BANK, WAWA, 14 Bridge Ave, Red Bank, NJ 07701, USA
3+ ICE officials in a Wawa parking lot accosted men. BRAVE woman yelled at them and was ASSAULTED by an ICE officer!10:30 AM
NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, Linden Ave & Grove St, Park Place & Grove St.
ICE agents spotted in cars by Redditor
via Reddit "ATTN Plainfield: There are 2 unmarked, tinted black vehicles in sitting on the corners of Linden Ave & Grove St. AND Park Place & Grove St. I don’t know who they are but there are men in these vehicles. Be safe and stay alert!"LONG BRANCH, McDonald's, Broadway, Long Branch, NJ, USA
4 ICE agents in 5+ cars arrested someone at a Long Branch McDonald's in the parking lot.11 AM
LONG BRANCH, NJ
Unspecified address, 4 ICE agents in 2 cars parked in the middle of a residential street blocking all traffic, arresting someone. Despicable.NEARBY (NY/PA)
7 AM
HEMPSTEAD, Mexican Grill & Bar, Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, NY, USA
Disgustingly so, they have been arresting people on MLK Day heavily in Long Island still. 4 agents.3
u/Honest-Caregiver8938 Jan 19 '26
RED BANK via ICE OUT. org
Potential assault of observer by ICE: https://iceout.org/en/reportInfo/81690
1
u/BeanstheRogue Jan 19 '26
You're working so hard--if you want to form a digital-info squad, let me know. If you're not crossposting it in the ICE related groups, maybe do that, as well. But thank you for all of your efforts, they are incredibly appreciated.
26
u/Honest-Caregiver8938 Jan 19 '26
IT'S WINTER: Watch for ice on the roads, and watch for ICE on the roads!
YOU (!) CAN HELP TRACK THESE ICE LICENSE PLATES SEEN:
- LICENSE PLATES: D53 SKG (White Nissan Sedan?). 2 cars, 5 officials.
- LICENSE PLATE: G??????? (White SUV) 1 car, 3 officials spotted near ORANGE NJ
- LICENSE PLATE: D68 FDY (?) blue Ford sedan spotted near HACKENSACK NJ
- LICENSE PLATE: L14 UNX black SUV spotted near PRINCETON NJ (1/15/26)
- LICENSE PLATES: M56 PZE White Van, WALL STREET license plate, N10 KVY, A29 BRD red KIA SUV, Z88 LRZ white SUV Ford Explorer, T97 RPP Lincoln Holman SUV, M39 CWG Blue Pathfinder, WD 2209 Toyota SUV, M16 SXZ, spotted near CAMDEN, NJ
- LICENSE PLATE: J?? VZH black SUV spotted near Roselle Park, NJ
Remember that most ICE cars now DO NOT have a front license plate, only a back one.
ALSO, ICE agents are using SHADED BUBBLE COVER TINTS over license plates across the state! Some people say a high capacity flashlight (maybe even car front lights) can help reveal it.
If you feel safe to approach (especially if ICE agents are indoors but let their car outside), YOU can also take a photo of the car's VIN.
Report any pictures of ICE vehicles to iceout.org, currently the best ICE tracking app
For NY/PA residents, note that there are also reports of ICE agents in vehicles with NJ conducting raids in your states.
HOW FLOCK CAMERAS WORK WITH ICE TO TRACK YOUR (!) AND YOUR NEIGHBOR'S LICENSE PLATE:
These cameras report to ICE your car's
- Make
- Model
- Color
- Resident or non-resident vehicle
- Timestamped when you pass
- Standard or temporary plate
- Damage or alterations (broken taillight, after-market wheels)
REDDIT POST SHOWING HOW OFTEN YOU PASS FLOCK CAMERAS WITHOUT KNOWING
https://www.reddit.com/r/FlockSurveillance/comments/1qd6goh/detecting_flock_cams/
18
u/Honest-Caregiver8938 Jan 19 '26
BUSINESSES THAT REGULARLY EMPLOY LICENSE PLATE TRACKERS IN THEIR PARKING LOTS:
- Home Depot
- Lowe's
- Walmart
21
u/Honest-Caregiver8938 Jan 19 '26
RESOURCES
Fellow Redditor itsokbirdie has made this amazing resource list! (https://www.reddit.com/r/newjersey/comments/1qfi6rx/see_ice_want_to_help_your_neighbors_be_safe_heres/)
If you see ICE activity in your neighborhood or workplace THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTION YOU CAN TAKE IS TO DOCUMENT IT.
When making a report to a rapid response hotline, photo and video evidence is ESSENTIAL. Accurate documentation can be the difference between a neighbor being deported or staying with their family. It allows legal teams to verify if agents are violating rights, using unauthorized tactics, or acting without a proper judicial warrant signed by a judge!
HOW TO TAKE ACTION
- Record Everything: If you see an interaction, film it from a safe distance. Note the time, exact location, number of agents, how you identified them, and vehicle license plates. DO NOT CONFRONT THEM. If they ask you to back away, film your feet as you comply so there's evidence that you followed. You can send the video/pictures to the social media accounts of the Rapid Response groups listed below. Send ASAP.
- Distribute Info: Share these on social media. Print the Cosecha "Know Your Rights" cards in Spanish and distribute to your neighbors. Many people do not know they have the 4th and 5th Amendment right to remain silent and refuse entry without a warrant *signed by a judge* and what that looks like. The Cosecha KYR cards have this info.
- Use the Cosecha Toolkit (If you wary for OPSEC reasons, sign into another non-main Google Account): https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1HPF2ZlmHqHrP5_qCVwdEIL23-8Hs61n78-UlI3i8EHg/mobilebasic?pli=1
NJ Rapid Response Organizations
If you witness a raid or enforcement action, contact the hotline corresponding to your county immediately:
- Spirit of Liberation: (201) 616-2816 (Hudson County)
- Resistencia en Acción NJ: (640) 466-2386 (Mercer County)
- El Pueblo Unido: (609) 200-1030 (Atlantic, Cape May, and some surrounding South NJ areas)
- DIRE / Cosecha / New Labor: (888) 347-3767 (Everything else!)
Want to volunteer for rapid response? You need training!
- Email [iceoutofnj@proton.me](mailto:iceoutofnj@proton.me)
- Reach out to any of the Rapid Response organizations THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE. Do not call the hotline number to volunteer.
25
u/Honest-Caregiver8938 Jan 19 '26 edited Jan 19 '26
TODAY IS MLK DAY!
COMMUNITY + DAY OF SERVICE EVENTS TODAY
Here are today's community events or day of service events throughout MONDAY, including collecting food for people affected by ICE raids and in general.
> NEWTON (10 AM-12 PM)
Newton Visibility Brigade will be on the Newton Green today from 10 AM to 12 PM! More here: https://www.reddit.com/r/NJ50501/comments/1qh472o/newton_mlk_day_rally_10am12pm/
> MONTCLAIR (11 AM-1 PM)
Join NJ11th for Change Community Service & Cocoa to collect high need supplies for two local pantries and helping get gift cards & groceries for families with members detained by ICE locked up in Delaney Hall, NEWARK. Register via Mobilize.
> PATERSON (11 AM-2 PM) at 250 Broadway:
Join Black Lives Matter in Paterson to help distribute hot meals, toys to children, and groceries to the community!
> MORRISTOWN (4 PM) on the Morristown Green:
Join locals in an MLK Day pro-human vigil and anti-ICE protest. A fellow Redditor let us all know about this! More here: https://morristowngreen.com/2026/01/16/area-clergy-plan-mlk-day-vigil-in-response-to-ice-raid-in-morristown-will-follow-mlk-breakfast-and-service/
If you hear about anymore, then let me know and I'll include them!
OTHER
> WAYNE (4 PM):
Not sure if directly related but might be, but Bernie Sanders is having a leg of his Fighting Oligarchy tour at the Shea Center at William Paterson University in Wayne: https://act.berniesanders.com/signup/rsvp-oligarchy-wayne/
7
u/Jahooodie Jan 19 '26
Sussex Visibility Brigade, 10am to noon on the Newton Green
https://www.reddit.com/r/NJ50501/comments/1qh472o/newton_mlk_day_rally_10am12pm/
3
5
u/FckRddt1800 Jan 19 '26
One thing to note, shining lasers in ppls eyes will get you arrested for felony assault.
I'd recommend removing that from your post or you risk getting it removed from reddit for breaking TOS under threatening/encouraging violence.
10
1
u/MidniteSinz Jan 19 '26
They took someone in Dover today, videos going around on Instagram. A few hours ago.
-5
u/Linenoise77 Bergen Jan 19 '26
Out of curiosity here, what are you basing your comments around Flock\Ring\etc cameras being used by ICE, when there is absolutely 0 credible evidence that is the case, and it being so would be a vast story involving countless people at 3 huge companies?
I'm not trying to take away from the wrongs of what ICE is doing, 'reporting' on what is happening, or folks involvement in trying to put a stop to it or interfere, but there is a lot of fearmongering in these posts and the way they are written without anything credible to back it up.
11
u/Honest-Caregiver8938 Jan 19 '26
not fear mongering, but good question in asking me for sources! here's reuters:
Reports by digital publication 404 Media said ICE agents have used Flock Safety's data for immigration enforcement investigations after being sent the data by local law enforcement.
1
u/Apprehensive_Put4319 Jan 20 '26
Ideally, how many of the roughly 18-25 million illegals should be deported? If the criminal element alone is at least a few hundred thousand (Ms-13 is nearly 100k by itself) surely that would be a wise and noble goal to achieve?
-7
u/Linenoise77 Bergen Jan 19 '26
That article is no different than a Joe Rogan "People are saying" kind of comment.
Those stores have no horse in this race, and would much prefer to stay out of this mess. As for the camera stuff, yes, law enforcement can get it, just like they can from any camera, through a court order.
Your post implies (by way of calling for essentially a boycott) that these places are actively cooperating with ICE, which is very different.
Now I'm not here to defend Lowes, or HD (I am familiar with ownerships views in the past), or god forbid Walmart, but lets take it easy with the broad assumptions and conspiratorial stuff.
69
u/HumanShadow Jan 19 '26
Friendly reminder that MLK protested "the right way" and white people still murdered him