Morristown, N.J., community fearful after ICE raid outside laundromat
A pastor in Morristown, New Jersey, says community members are too afraid to go outside after recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.
He said 11 men were detained by ICE agents outside a laundromat and a nearby restaurant Sunday, just blocks away from St. Margaret Church.
On Saturday, a Department of Homeland Security official confirmed to CBS News New York that 11 people were arrested "during routine immigration enforcement actions," saying in a statement, in part, "Several of those with felony offenses. Others took advantage of the Biden administration's open border crisis."
"All individuals are currently detained, and either in removal proceedings or in the process of being removed from the United States in accordance with U.S. immigration law," the DHS official wrote, in part.
"It's disgraceful"
Rev. Duberney Villamizar said hundreds of people in the community are suffering after the raid.
"They have children, they have mothers, they have fathers, and they have an extended family," he said.
In Spanish, a laundromat employee told CBS News New York now, there are barely any customers.
He said one woman came in with a heap of clothes to wash for other people, adding some residents are too afraid to leave their houses.
"It's disgraceful that someone can't even leave their home to do laundry, can't leave to buy food," he said in Spanish.
Villamizar said he's told the community they can watch services online if they are too afraid to come in person.
17-year-old Morristown High School senior among those detained
Villamizar said 17-year-old Juan Mendoza, a senior at Morristown High School, was injured as he was taken into custody Sunday.
"He's in pain ... I heard today that especially in the leg, he's in pain," Villamizar said.
According to Villamizar, Mendoza was taken to a detention center in Elizabeth and was visited by his lawyer Wednesday.
"He's trying to process everything," Villamizar said.
Mendoza is from Honduras and came to the United States alone a few years ago, according to Villamizar.
"He came here every week for parish Masses," he said. "It's telling you something that his kindness in his heart. It's very hard to bring our kids today to the church."
Mendoza's family said he had an upcoming hearing to seek special immigrant juvenile status.
DHS confirmed in a statement that Mendoza was among those detained, writing, "He illegally entered the U.S. in 2024 and was RELEASED into this country by the Biden administration. He is an adult."