ICE arrests two Princeton residents (updated 5:30 p.m.)
ICE agents detained two Princeton residents on Thursday, Jan. 15, including a 40-year-old father of four from the Witherspoon Jackson neighborhood who has a child at the Community Park School.
Agents were first observed at about 8:30 a.m. by a crossing guard at Birch Avenue and John Street who spotted two suspicious vehicles. Several people approached the vehicles before they drove away, and the witnesses believed the people in the vehicles were ICE agents.
The Princeton Police Department contacted ICE and confirmed that federal agents were in Princeton. ICE did not provide details about why the two men were detained or provide any official information, officials said.
Local officials said ICE did not notify the municipality or the police department in advance of the raid. Officials said the Princeton Police Department does not participate in federal immigration enforcement actions.
As word spread in the community about the raid, rumors followed. Panicked parents checked in on their children and texted images of their passports to them.
There was confusion about what happened in Princeton’s public schools, whether or not schools went into lockdown mode, and what actions were related to the ICE raid.
Superintendent of Schools Mike LaSusa clarified what happened Thursday in an email to Planet Princeton.
“We did not hold students from outdoor recess today, at least not at all four elementary schools due to anything happening in the community,” LaSusa said. “The high school was never in lockdown mode. A lockdown is called if there is a threat inside of a building and staff and students must take refuge behind a locked classroom door or in other safe spaces inside a school because there might be imminent danger.”
Princeton High Principal Cecilia Birge sent out an email at 12:22 p.m. alerting people that the high school had been sheltering in place from 10:47 a.m. until 11:55 a.m.
“We call these if we feel there is a reason for students to not leave campus or, internally, if we want to keep them out of the hallways so that we can deal with a medical event or other issue,” LaSusa said. “In terms of leaving campus, given the rumors flying around today and some of the sightings being reported to us, we felt it was appropriate to have students remain in school during school hours. During a shelter-in-place, teachers carry out instruction as planned, and the school continues its normal operations from the standpoint of lunch, schedule, instruction, and so forth.”
LaSusa sent an email out to parents to dispel rumors on Thursday afternoon.
“Some of our schools have been the subject of rumors over the course of today. I am writing to simply inform you that our schools are currently functioning as normal, except that we have chosen to keep students on campus for the day at PHS, as opposed to allowing them to leave campus during breaks or free periods,” he wrote. “We do this on occasion for a variety of reasons,” he wrote. “Thank you for your understanding and please rest assured that the district will swiftly put out messaging if there is ever an emergent issue requiring notification to parents.”
i heard from a friend that they were at PHS. is that true?
im from PHS, they were really close to us so we went on lockdown for like only an hour
the teachers at pms are stopping us from getting taken
You poor brainwashed child.
Seriously? I’d like to think you’re not a monster but I don’t know who would say that to a child
Please clarify your statement as I am attempting to understand who you are insulting. Thank you.
Sorry you had to go through that
yes
They are at PHS. they are also at the middle school. I saw an agent. All the teachers are standing outside preventing kids from getting swiped
Guys im from PMs and im confused can someone tell me what happened. Yesterday I saw a police officer in front of our school and today there were teachers standing outside when school was dismissed, were Ice agents actually at the schools
Stop the bullshit ! Not true . Teachers were not preventing student from being snatched. I was at the school .
The Gestapo has arrived!
I am a parent and I did not receive this communication.
Why post that in a comments forum? Contact the school admin and let them know, then ensure they have your correct contact info.
Thank you Planet Princeton for reporting on this in such a timely way.
I second that!
Thank you, Planet Princeton, for your reliable, prompt reporting!
The lack of transparency from PHS and the district today was unacceptable. We also received this, confirming, in fact, that they were in a shelter-in-place. If this is our new normal, parents need transparency around the situation and practices in place. Our kids are anxious, we can’t just pretend it’s business as usual.
Dear PHS Families,
This is a notification that PHS was under Shelter-In-Place between 10.47 am and 11:55 am. School operation resumed to normal.
Have a good afternoon!
Cecilia X. Birge
PHS Principal
As a crisis communications professional I can tell you “Have a great afternoon!” Is pretty tone deaf in this message.
Your information is incorrect, and the message from the superintendent is misleading. My son reported to me from the high school that they were in shelter in place mode, and when I went to PHS, I was told the same thing by the security guards outside. Then Then I spoke to the principal outside, who told me she was waiting for the police and that no one was allowed in or out of the school. It is unclear why there was this shelter in place if there was no threat or danger at the school itself…
Mr. Meyers, we have updated the article with the email from the high school principal. Thanks for your comment.
I’m confused why the article listed that the detained individual was a father, how many kids he has, or their ages. Were the kids taken into custody as well, or was this a weird attempt to elicit emotional response just because he fathered kids?
Because it matters that these ICE goons are waiting outside f*%king schools to snatch parents picking up their children you moron.
I think UNTIL ALL THE FACTS ARE KNOWN, it is better to not assume or conjecture what if anything happened. Some of these comments jumped to conclusions without facts. I understand that’s part of the issue – the absence of facts. That specifically is where the focus should be. Either school or town officials don’t know and haven’t made the effort to ask federal authorities, or did not ask at all. Or the federal government did not reach out. To me that’s the important issue. The lack of communication with local authorities needs to stop. It works both ways however. Is there a reason the federal resources did not communicate with locals or vice versa or both? It is my understanding that federal resources would like nothing more than to coordinate and cooperate with local authorities. If local authorities and/or federal authorities have shut down or deterred that communication, that needs to be resolved. So a lot of parents are upset regarding the lack of communication of this occurrence. That is very upsetting if you have a kid in school. What is the root cause of that? Communication to parents needs to be resolved going forward. So my suggestion is to mend the communication channels between local authorities and the federal resources so that coordinated communication can JOINTLY be put forth in the future.
Thank you for clearly stating what should be totally obvious to anyone with a soul.
I thought they were only arresting dangerous criminals but they are maliciously destroying families ,shooting innocent people and trampling on the constitution and Bill of rights…
The nazis are here
Three kids now don’t have a father anymore all because of what he looks like.
Because it’s relevant information for an anxious community, but thank you for your input Adolf
like Maryland dad?
Princeton is a “Welcoming Community for All” this means we don’t need to follow laws
then why have a government and police defund it all
they came.
Law enforcement conducting law enforcement activities… yes, let’s all panic
Deporting us citizens does not seem very lawful to me.
Their law enforcement authority is limited to immigration-related. They’ve proven that they go well beyond that in their actions, stopping cars with no cause (they are not authorized to perform traffic stops unless they have reason to believe the vehicle is harboring an undocumented immigrant), trying to enter private homes/businesses by force (a warrant signed by a judge is required), using pepper spray without cause, wearing masks (No legitimate law enforcement agencies allow the wearing of masks except in specific circumstances, and this is not that). How would you feel if you or your loved ones were suddenly surrounded by 5 or 6 masked men with guns who dragged you from your car or while walking on the street and threw you in a van without explanation, etc.? I wish each one of them would think about that.
God bless President Trump God bless America God Bless I.C.E
Indeed ! 🙂
Seriously, what is wrong with you? Delighting in the misfortune of others and invoking God. Do you believe that Jesus (if that is who you believe in) would be celebrating this? I am not even Christian and I know that Jesus would have been preaching anything but what Trump is doing. Also, perhaps you can try to use punctuation in your comments.
Are you mentally ill? The convicted felon we have in office right now is doing the objectively WORST job known to man. ICE is tearing families apart, killing innocent people, and deporting civilians. The parallels to Nazi Germany are frankly astounding.
Awesome comment.
What would Jesus do? Jesus was a brown refugee that didn’t speak one lick of English. If you ever read the New Testament, you would also know he was actually a socialist… Ponder that.
Until they come for you and or someone you care for and love. Let’s see how you feel then about “Agent Orange and his Tangerine Thugs.” Remember January 6, 2021.
These gestapo techniques used by the Trump fascist regime are unacceptable. It’s the principal’s responsibility to call it out as it is. It’s as dangerous, random, and terrifying as a school shooter or an earthquake situation. Being “out of status” is a misemeanor which does not merit being sent to a torture prison. Who is next? Your white privilege won’t keep you safe for long. “….Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out”.
Local police should be working WITH ice. Law is law.
Anonymous J, I assume you’re also outraged that the felons found guilty of assaulting police on J6 were pardoned, and the police were blamed for it? Be consistent when it comes to rule of law.
No one is safe. Yes, then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out.
Is there any way the community can support the families? Any organizations that will help them?
Whether or not ICE was present at any of the schools is a moot point. The administration’s tentacles are spreading fear, anxiety and rumors. It’s time to fight back, and protect our most vulnerable community members.
The cacerolazo was used during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile in which people were disappeared. We, too, can stand in opposition in our yards, downtown streets, and outside of all schools and participate in safe opposition to our current regime. It’s time to bang pots, and make noise.
No one is safe in this community.
Yes, we need to get involved. No one is safe, even United States citizens. Now is the time to peacefully make our voices heard.
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen, school going on lockdown / shelter because law enforcement was in the area?
There is also information that the crossing guard left her post and ran to video and photograph the law enforcement officers. If this is true, she needs to be fired!
You are lying and have never seen ICE in action let alone witnessed them torturing an illegal immigrant. Stop fomenting propaganda and falsehoods or you dont deserve any US citizenshlp or a even a green card.
The school really should corporate with Feb law enforcement . The school teacher’s behavior is making Princeton potentially be next Minopplos and make entire community in dangerous conditions
The Gestapo sent people to extermination camps, ICE sends them home.
No, ICE has been sending folks to countries they have never been before. Some have been tortured when they get there because there are sadistic people that take joy in it.
I see that the Russian AI is cranking out its usual pro-Krasnov comments
The family of the gentleman with 4 kids can be assisted through Nassau Presbyterian’s “Neighbor Fund.” And if the other man has a family, they can be assisted also. The Fund is well run and families are vetted by both Princeton Human Services and the Church. See:
https://secure.accessacs.com/access/oglogin.aspx?sn=92163&f=1117
Now, this is what Jesus would do.
We have to all protest when ice is in our city is not fair trump is the Antichrist no doubt
Law and Order… If you’reegal you have nothing to worry about… What don’t you understand…..?
Any school not having a lockdown, or school administrators not communicating about this, are endangering kids, especially disabled kids. They should be fired immediately.
Who cares
As neighbors and residents of one community, we all care. That’s who cares!
This what Minnesotans have to say about how regular folks feel about ICE. https://youtu.be/6huYUqJI9v4?si=KJKKpk5mm3LSd3KI&t=365
Excellent coverage, Planet Princeton. The official statements of response from school officials seem defensive, distressing and, yes, “tone deaf.”
Let ICE and law enforcement do their jobs. If you don’t break the law (are not here illegally or go out of your way to obstruct justice), then you don’t have anything to worry about. It is unbelievable the people who go to great lengths to protect (and sometimes resort to violence) those who are living here without the right (through an appropriate visa, green-card, citizenship, etc.), and completely disregard those that came legally and have the right to be here (many of them escaped atrocities and were searching for a better life too). Can’t wait to see the nasty reactions to my personal thoughts here. Bring it.
Over 170 US citizens have already been detained by ICE since Trump took office, and the number of non-citizen legal residents who have been detained (and in many cases deported) is 10x that. Even before Trump, ICE was mistakenly arresting more than 100 citizens and legal residents per year, and now these incompetent fools have assault rifles and zero accountability.
The school District and Board of Education should use this as a teaching moment for all the children.
1. Any and all law enforcement officers are not here to hurt anyone. They are here for your safety including ICE
2. If you are in this country illegally you should discuss with your parents about the proper legal procedures to become legal citizens. You can direct them to DHS website if necessary. If their parents are uniformed maybe the schools could help direct them.
3. Local police stations and township officials should be inviting the illegal persons into the municipal building weekly or at any time to help them register and begin a clear pathway to citizenship.
There are some hard truths. I don’t like paying taxes, driving the speed limit or wearing seatbelts but if I don’t there are consequences and ones I don’t like. Some include incarceration which would take me away from my family and friends… so I respect the law and the laws of this great country.