As federal immigration officers continue to conduct operations in New Jersey, two individuals were apprehended outside a church in Union City.
An ICE official identified one man as an El Salvadorian who was issued a final order of removal but failed to appear for his immigration court.
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The other is a Guatemalan man who ICE claims entered the country illegally.
Laura Nolasco expressed sympathy as she recorded ICE authorities arresting the men outside her 19th Street house.
“I was angry,” Nolasco admitted. “These are people who were coming to church.”
That statement was backed by Miguel and his mother, Mercedes, the pastor’s wife and son at Iglesia Cristiana Dios De Amor Church, which is just across the street.
“Hard workers in the church. Mercedes remarked, “Very hard.”
“They both read the word to the kids,” Miguel remarked. “They’re two members that are adored by the members of our church because they are decent individuals. I’m not sure what will happen.”
According to an ICE spokesperson, agents performed “targeted surveillance for more than a mile” before apprehending both males in front of their church.
“ICE did not target or attack any churches…”This type of garbage is contributing to a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against our officers,” the official told PIX11 News.
The ICE official declined to say whether the agents’ “targeted surveillance” included looking particularly for the two males.
