šØ FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS REPORTEDLY DETAIN PEOPLE IN MONTCLAIR AND BLOOMFIELD šØ
Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained several people in Montclair and Bloomfield on Monday. The enforcement actions are part of a series of operations that have led to multiple arrests throughout Essex County this year.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ ā Federal immigration enforcement activity was reported Monday in Montclair and Bloomfield, with multiple people reportedly taken into custody as ICE activity continues across Essex County.
According to reports from local news outlets and community organizations, four people were detained on Elm Street near Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Video circulating online appears to show federal agents taking a person from a pickup truck near a gas station.
In Bloomfield, the Bloomfield Immigrant Justice Network reported that federal agents apprehended at least one person Monday. The person's vehicle was reportedly left at the scene while community members worked to return it to relatives.
The reported activity comes amid a series of immigration enforcement operations in Essex County throughout 2026, including previous arrests or detentions reported in Newark, Belleville, South Orange and Maplewood. Montclair and Bloomfield have also seen demonstrations and community gatherings related to federal immigration enforcement.
š MONTCLAIR: In August, six people were reportedly detained by ICE, including two employees of a local restaurant. Federal officials described that operation as routine immigration enforcement and alleged that the detainees had unlawfully entered the United States.
š BLOOMFIELD: Federal immigration agents were also reported at municipal property in June. According to local officials, the agents left after being informed of township restrictions concerning ICE activity on municipal property.
The increased federal enforcement has drawn conflicting reactions. Federal officials have emphasized that ICE operations target people they consider criminal threats, while immigrant-rights advocates and families of detainees have disputed broader characterizations of those being arrested.
Garden State News Network will continue monitoring developments and will report confirmed information as it becomes available.
ā ļø Editor's Note: Reports concerning Monday's activity are based on local reporting and statements from community organizations. Details surrounding individual arrests and the status of those detained may change as federal authorities release additional information.