ICE raid in Avenel amid calls for immigrant protections across Central Jersey
Advocates have been urging state lawmakers to pass the Immigrant Trust Act after multiple immigration raids in the area.
A Customs and Border Protection officer stands guard during a federal immigration raid in Avenel, New Jersey. (The Central Jerseyan)
October 29, 2025
***Update***
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed 46 people were arrested in a raid on a warehouse Wednesday in Avenel. The DHS statement, released Thursday, says agents targeted the business Savino Del Bene. Neither the Woodbridge Police Department nor the mayor’s office were notified ahead of the operation, according to multiple reports.
Following the raid, several advocacy groups released a statement urging local voters to call state lawmakers who represent the area — including Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, and state Senator Vitale — to support the Immigrant Trust Act.
The lawmakers released a joint statement praising the diversity of the local communities.
“As legislators, we know that no one individual is above the law and all immigration procedures must be followed properly, especially in respect to individual rights,” the statement says, “Our state and district are at their best when dignity and justice are upheld for all and we remain committed to ensuring that the diverse families and residents we cherish can continue to live in the communities they love without fear.”
Immigration advocates at the scene of the raid alleged ICE agents entered the building without a signed judicial warrant during an inspection by Customs and Border Protection.
DHS says the operation was part of “ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with customs and immigration regulations, safeguard the integrity of the supply chain, and verify that warehouse operators are adhering to all applicable security requirements.”
***Original Report***
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided a property in Avenel on Wednesday. It’s unclear how many people were detained in the operation, though advocates say as many as 50 workers were taken into custody.
The agents were met on scene by a small group of protesters.
“This action by our government is completely immoral,” said Rev. Carmine Pernini, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Rahway. “The idea that we’re deporting the worst of the worst is a pretext to get out Black and Brown people.”
While Rev. Pernini stood silently in protest, other activists at the scene shouted at agents wearing masks and tactical gear. The situation grew tense when one officer slapped a protester, though no arrests were made.
The raid happened at 34 Engelhard Avenue, in Avenel’s warehouse district. The property includes multiple businesses, but it remains unclear which companies were targeted by the operation.
The Central Jerseyan reached out to ICE and the Woodbridge Police Department for comment. Neither has responded.
Wednesday’s operation follows a series of similar enforcement actions in Central Jersey industrial zones over the past several months.
In July, agents from the ICE Newark Field Office arrested 20 workers during a joint inspection at Alba Wines and Spirits Warehousing and Distribution in Edison, according to a federal statement. The inspection, conducted with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, involved more than 100 employees. ICE said five of those arrested had been issued final orders of removal by an immigration judge.
The agency described the operation as part of its routine worksite enforcement program, which, according to ICE, is intended to ensure that businesses comply with immigration and employment laws.
A second immigration raid took place in Edison in August, according to multiple reports, prompting outcry from community groups and elected officials.
An advocate with Migra Watch speaks to federal officers during the Avenel immigration raid on Wednesday. The group monitors ICE operations and supports affected workers. (The Central Jerseyan)
In response, Edison’s Town Council voted in August to adopt a resolution supporting the Immigrant Trust Act, a bill pending in Trenton that would limit how much voluntary assistance state and local police departments can provide to federal immigration authorities.
The measure seeks to codify a directive from the state Attorney General’s Office that prohibits police from holding individuals for ICE or sharing information about release dates and addresses unless required by a judicial warrant.
Edison officials said their vote signaled support for immigrant residents and aimed to strengthen community trust in local policing.
Leaders in Rahway have voiced support for the legislation but have not yet introduced a formal city council resolution.
Wednesday’s enforcement action in Avenel drew renewed criticism from immigrant-rights groups across Middlesex and Union Counties. Organizers said the raids are spreading fear among warehouse and logistics workers, many of whom live in neighboring towns like Rahway and Elizabeth.
There were also reports among activists of a possible ICE operation Wednesday in Cranford, but a detective there said he was unaware of any activity in town.
The renewed enforcement push comes as the federal government reportedly considers leadership changes within ICE, signaling a possible increase in intensity in the Trump administration’s immigration strategy.
Protesters confronted federal immigration agents at the scene of a raid in Avenel, New Jersey. (The Central Jerseyan)