21 arrested in immigration raid at Edison warehouse

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
21 arrested in immigration raid at Edison warehouse

Border patrol agents from the New York/Newark port detain a man at the Alba Wine and Spirits Warehouse in Edison, N.J., on Tuesday, July 8. CBP/X

EDISON, N.J., July 10 (ZFJ) — Federal immigration authorities arrested 21 people in a raid on an Edison warehouse on Tuesday, July 8.

The raid occurred at the Alba Wine and Spirits Warehouse, located at 360 Saw Mill Pond Road in the Heller Industrial Parks section of the town.

Immigrant advocates were notified of the raid via calls to their rapid response lines. They showed up to the warehouse, warned incoming workers of the authorities’ presence and to stay away, and streamed the raid live on Facebook.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and marked vehicles are seen in the livestreams. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and unmarked vehicles are also visible in the footage.

Immigrant advocacy group Hispanos En Los Esclavos Unidos said on Facebook that agents gave red bracelets to workers who had proof of citizenship or legal residence and detained anyone else.

Activist group Semilla Roja said on Instagram that detainees were taken to either Delaney Hall, located in Newark, or the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility.

The next day, Leon Hayward, acting CBP port director of New York/Newark, said on X that his port conducted a Fraud Interdiction Strike Team operation on the Edison warehouse, which is customs bonded, meaning imported goods can be stored there without payment of duty.

Hayward confirmed that 20 people were arrested for immigration violations and one person was arrested for an outstanding local warrant.

The ZFJ was unable to reach the port’s media affairs officer, who retired a few weeks ago, and an emailed inquiry to CBP’s general media email was not returned.

Edison officials told local media that the township had been notified of impending immigration enforcement activity and that Edison police are barred from participating in immigration operations by directive of the N.J. attorney general.

The ZFJ attempted to contact the Edison mayor’s office for comment but was transferred to an extension number that was not answered.

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