In Newark, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador was fleeing from ICE when he crashed his vehicle into both police and civilian cars, injuring three children in the process. Interestingly, the city’s mayor placed the blame on law enforcement for the chaos that ensued.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that ICE was in the midst of a specific operation to apprehend Cristian Oswaldo Guevara-Guerra, who had been living in the U.S. illegally and had faced deportation orders since October 2017 due to criminal charges.
On Wednesday, when authorities tried to pull Guevara-Guerra over in Newark, he accelerated and collided with several vehicles, including those carrying children.
This incident resulted in three children being sent to the hospital—two aged 15 and one aged 12. Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka expressed his concerns about ICE’s actions, criticizing the decision to pursue suspects in that manner.
Baraka remarked, “Federal authorities should adhere to local traffic laws and exercise common sense,” emphasizing that his city’s police did not play a role in the unfortunate accident.
He added, “Given the damage they inflict on our communities, ICE shouldn’t be chasing suspects everywhere, especially in densely populated areas and on roads still hazardous from a recent snowstorm.”
“ICE must not endanger innocent people while attempting to apprehend their targets,” he concluded.
Recent months have seen a rise in public denunciations of ICE among Democratic leaders, especially after a tragic incident where protesters were shot and killed during a confrontation with agents, triggering significant protests in the Twin Cities.
Baraka continued to voice his disapproval of federal agencies, insisting they should not hinder access to public records.
“This is our city. These are our people, and this incident reflects a trend of fanaticism and disregard for the law seen nationwide. Someone could have lost their life in Newark today. These agents need to follow local guidelines,” he stated.
Guevara-Guerra, who had prior arrests connected to stolen property, was ultimately apprehended and treated for his injuries at a local hospital.
Baraka is among several progressive mayors across the U.S. who have openly resisted President Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, vowing not to collaborate with federal efforts to remove criminal offenders from their communities.
