JACKSON – Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement came to town and made one arrest during their recent operation in the community.
Mayor Jennifer Kuhn confirmed in a video post on social media that after receiving calls, photos and texts “since seven o’clock in morning asking if ICE was in Jackson Township today. I wanted to confirm for Jackson residents that yes if you did see activity, officers with masks in your neighborhood, that was ICE in Jackson Township.”
Jersey Shore Online reached out to the ICE public affairs office in Newark for further details about the agency’s activities in Jackson and whether they followed recently passed legislation that banned the use of masks in the Garden State while operations were being conducted.
ICE Public Affairs Officer Chrissy Cuttita responded stating that during the targeted operations in Jackson, ICE Newark officers “encountered and arrested Rubiel Gabriel Nolasco, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico on April 1. Nolasco was arrested twice by Border Patrol in 2021 and was returned to Mexico on both occasions. The Toms River Police Department arrested Nolasco on July 29, 2024, for domestic violence – simple assault, to which he later pleaded guilty.”
“He also has pending charges for driving with a suspended license or registration. Nolasco is in ICE custody, pending removal proceedings. Under President (Donald) Trump, criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States. If you come to our country illegally and break our law, we will find you and we will arrest you,” she added.
Others arrested in New Jersey include, according to the DHS:
- Josue Calderon Mendez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico whose criminal history includes sexual assault.
- Juan Corona, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico whose criminal history includes voluntary manslaughter, aggravated strongarm assault and selling cocaine.
- Steven McKenzie, a criminal illegal alien from Jamaica whose criminal history includes homicide, aggravated assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, carrying a prohibited weapon and robbery.
- Gabriel Murcia Lozano, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia whose criminal history includes homicide (negligent manslaughter) with a weapon and voluntary manslaughter.
- Rudy Chavez, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala whose criminal history includes homicide with a weapon and drug trafficking.
Responses to the incident were varied. When Mayor Kuhn confirmed on social media that ICE was in Jackson, one commenter said “Yes, they are and they are doing a great job.”
Another post stated “I missed that frightening sight. I may have felt compelled to offer an opinion or try to save a neighbor. Getting old has made me super protective of my neighbors.”
Another quipped “But, but, but…Mikie (Governor Mikie Sherrill) said she banned them from wearing masks.”
Another post stated, “I think there should be more accountability for the people giving them work. If someone is hiring workers without proper insurance or protections, that should be taken seriously and enforced. I see how hard these guys work, risking their safety out there, and I respect that – but it’s frustrating…There should be a system where people can work safely, legally and with the proper protections in place. Everyone deserves to do things the right way without being put at risk.”
ICE operations have been the subject of nationwide controversy for more than a year now. The allowance of wearing masks and non-descript attire while conducting their raids rounding up immigrants has been one of several major criticisms. Other concerns include whether adequate training is being provided and incidents involving American citizens who were wrongfully arrested or detained along with incidents where citizens were injured or killed during operations.
Governor Sherrill signed three bills into law recently aimed at unmasking ICE agents. The legislation was passed after Republican legislators, municipal leaders and representatives from Moms for Liberty and Turning Point USA rallied against them. Other states have passed similar laws.
The bills came up as opposition continues to grow nationwide toward ICE agents and other immigration officers wearing neck gaiters and balaclavas to obscure their identities during raids. Lawmakers say the practice creates fear and confusion and have pointed out that some individuals have taken advantage of it by impersonating ICE officers.
“We saw people in the street with masks and no insignia. So not accountable at all, hiding from the population and we saw again and again an undermining of what law enforcement should do to keep people safe,” Sherrill said during an appearance on “The Daily Show.”
A DHS statement included in the ICE response to The Jackson Times referencing the recently passed legislation stated, “to be crystal clear: we will not abide by this unconstitutional ban. The Supremacy Clause makes it clear that New Jersey’s sanctuary politicians do not control federal law enforcement.”
“This law from sanctuary politicians in New Jersey is irresponsible, reckless, and dangerous,” the DHS statement added. “ICE officers wear face coverings for one reason: to protect themselves and their families from real-world threats including agitators.
“The danger is not hypothetical. Public databases and online ‘lists’ have been created to expose officers’ identities,” the spokesperson added.
DHS said ICE law enforcement officers “face more than 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them.”
ICE agents were briefly called upon to support TSA efforts at airports across the country when hours-long lines were experienced due to staffing shortages during the partial DHS shutdown.
A provision was issued by President Trump that ICE agents perform their airport duties unmasked and that they be properly identifiable. The president later freed up funds to pay TSA officers what they were owed during the time of the government shutdown.
ICE officers were not performing the same work as TSA officers at the time. They were not trained to do so according to White House Border Czar Tom Homan. They patrolled areas of airports that are off limits to travelers at airports and did not assist with the screening of travelers.
Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the ICE Funding Accountability Act and the Private Detention Accountability Act to work to ensure accountability and transparency of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This was paired with his End Warehouse Detention Act, introduced on the same day. Kim said he had been inside a Trump administration approved private detention facility at Delaney Hall. “These facilities do not belong in New Jersey or any corner of our country. Americans are sick of this administration’s cruelty and lawlessness, and don’t want another dime of their hard-earned money funding it. Congress needs to step up, assert its authority, and use these bills to reign in this out-of-control administration.”
In contrast, 12th District Assemblyman Alex Sauickie (R-Ocean) a former Jackson councilman, expressed strong opposition to the legislation in New Jersey banning ICE agents from wearing masks during enforcement operations. Sauickie described the ban as “performative theater” arguing that it puts law enforcement officers at risk.
