On one of the coldest days of the year, hundreds of people gathered in Jersey City on Friday to oppose recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Hudson County. Protesters assembled at Riverview-Fisk Park before marching through city streets toward the Pershing Field Park Community Center, where the main rally took place.
As the crowd moved forward, demonstrators repeatedly chanted “ICE out,” making their opposition audible across the route between the two parks. Despite freezing temperatures, attendance remained high, drawing residents, community organizers, and elected officials.
The march was not spontaneous. It followed a recent series of immigration-related arrests that have unsettled communities across Hudson County.
- At least 10 recent ICE arrests in Hudson County — including at a Jersey City–Hoboken light rail station — sparked a large protest march from Riverview-Fisk Park to Pershing Field Park Community Center.
- Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour, Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, city council members, and Assemblywoman Katie Brennan publicly joined the march in opposition to ICE tactics.
- Local residents are being trained to safely document ICE activity, including operations near courthouses, to increase public visibility of enforcement actions.
At Least 10 Arrests Spark Public Outcry in Hudson County
The rally came after at least 10 people were arrested in Hudson County as part of recent federal immigration enforcement operations. Federal officials confirmed that some of those detained were accused of re-entering the United States after previously being deported.
Several of the arrests occurred in highly visible public settings, including at a light rail station between Jersey City and Hoboken. The choice of location raised concern among local leaders because the station serves daily commuters who rely on public transit for work, school, and routine travel.
While federal authorities acknowledged the arrests, they released few details beyond the allegation of illegal re-entry. No further explanation was provided about the scope of the operation or how individuals were selected.
Regional Mayors Join March in Show of Local Opposition
The protest drew participation from elected officials across municipal and state government, signaling strong local resistance to federal tactics.
Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour walked from Hoboken into Jersey City to join the demonstration. “Watching 10 people get taken at random by masked agents doesn’t make our community safer. It’s quite the opposite. And so it’s my job to stand up for the safety of my community,” she said.
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon also marched with the crowd. He was joined by members of the Jersey City Council and Assemblywoman Katie Brennan, bringing multiple levels of local government into direct participation in the protest.
Their presence signaled that concerns about ICE operations were not limited to activists but shared among local political leadership.
Community Organizing Aims to Document Future ICE Activity
During the rally, Assemblywoman Brennan said immigration enforcement operations were taking place in multiple locations around Hudson County, including near courthouses.
She told attendees that community members were being trained to document these encounters safely as they occurred. The goal, she said, was to capture as much information as possible so federal agents could not operate without public visibility.
Brennan did not specify the names of particular training programs or legal observer networks, but her comments indicated an organized effort to monitor enforcement activity across the county.
Transit Hub Arrests Raise Alarm Among Local Leaders
At least one arrest took place at a light rail station serving the Jersey City–Hoboken corridor, a heavily used transportation link in Hudson County.
Local officials expressed concern that targeting public transit locations could affect everyday riders, many of whom are immigrants or have immigrant family members. The station’s role as a regional connector made the incident particularly sensitive.
Limited Federal Response Leaves Questions Unanswered
Federal authorities confirmed only that some individuals were accused of illegal re-entry after deportation. They did not issue a detailed public response addressing community complaints about tactics, transparency, or the choice of enforcement locations.
Local officials and organizers said the lack of information made it difficult for residents to understand what was happening in their neighborhoods.
Plans for Continued Monitoring in Hudson County
Rally organizers said they intended to keep tracking immigration enforcement activity across Hudson County. Brennan’s comments about training residents suggested that documentation efforts would continue beyond Friday’s protest.
No specific dates were announced for upcoming community meetings, legal clinics, or additional public actions, but organizers indicated that more events were being planned.
