Ice operation in belleville confirmed by mayor velez

ICE Operation in Belleville Confirmed by Mayor Velez

Posted by
1 min read
July 28, 2026
Mayor Frank Vélez said multiple ICE operations took place Tuesday in Belleville, with witnesses reporting several landscaping workers were taken into federal custody.

Belleville, NJ – Multiple Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations were carried out Monday in Belleville, with several landscaping workers reportedly taken into federal custody, according to a statement released by Mayor Frank Vélez.

The mayor said he was informed of enforcement activity at Rutgers Street and Van Reyper Place. The statement cited witness accounts from both locations and noted that ICE later confirmed its presence in the township.

Mayor details enforcement activity

“Earlier today, I was made aware of multiple ICE operations that took place on Rutgers Street and Van Reyper Place,” Vélez said in the statement.

“Based on information provided by witnesses at both locations, multiple landscaping workers were taken into ICE custody,” the mayor added.

Vélez also said, “ICE has also confirmed its presence in Belleville today.”

Federal agency has not released additional details

As of Tuesday, ICE had not publicly released information regarding the number of individuals taken into custody, their identities, or the specific nature of the enforcement operation.

No criminal charges or immigration violations involving those detained have been announced by federal authorities. Additional details about the operation have not yet been released.

Shore News Network has reached out to ICE for additional information and will update this story as more details become available.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version