By Sunayana Prabhu
RED BANK – Borough officials took a united stance at the latest council meeting amid heightened concerns over recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions across the nation. Although the state’s Immigration Trust Directive keeps state and local police from working with federal immigration agents, meaning a majority of ICE operations occur without notice to local law enforcement, Red Bank officials used the Jan 22. council meeting to brief residents on what they can do to get help.
In an effort to “allay the confusion,” Mayor Billy Portman addressed reports of increased ICE activity in the borough recently, noting the borough has “actionable” options for residents.
Adriana Medina Gomez, the borough’s director of Recreation and Human Services and Police Chief Mike Frazee briefed the public on resources available.
The Red Bank-based nonprofit American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) offers a hotline (973-474-9861) for those detained or seeking legal assistance. Residents are encouraged to share this resource. The borough is also working closely with the Mexican consulate to help families impacted by detentions.
Portman thanked the rapid responders and urged people observing or recording ICE operations to do so “in a respectful way that keeps everyone safe. The goal here is to be identifying the individuals who are being taken so we can get services to them as quickly as possible,” Portman said.
Gomez said AFSC will hold an information session Feb. 17 to provide more information to the public. Residents can follow @AFSCNJ on Instagram for updates.
The borough has also expanded bilingual communications and increased outreach efforts to ensure all residents, particularly those in affected neighborhoods, stay informed and empowered, officials said.
“This is something we all need to come together for, not just in here in Red Bank, but across the country,” said Frazee. “As the police chief, I share everyone’s frustration.”
He assured residents that the department continues to follow the attorney general’s annual training and guidelines under the Immigrant Trust Directive, “which limits the type of assistance that we provide to federal immigration authorities,” he said. “I can honestly say, since I’ve been chief, really, since I’ve been in the department, we’ve never participated in any immigration activities, or really ever exchanged information with immigration or federal agents regarding someone’s immigration status.”
Frazee clarified that while the directive restricts police involvement in civil immigration matters, it does not prevent officers from enforcing criminal laws or making arrests based on criminal conduct.
The Immigrant Trust Directive is designed to encourage trust between law enforcement and residents, particularly those in the immigrant community, to ensure everyone feels safe reporting crimes or coming forward as a witness. “We do not round up. We do not assist federal agents in rounding up people whose immigration status is suspect,” Frazee said.
“We want our residents to feel safe, to feel that they can come to the police department to report any crimes or anything that’s going on in their community.”
Resident Stephen Hecht asked whether borough police could be present as witnesses during ICE arrests to help comfort the community and “evaluate” the federal operations when they occur.
Borough attorney Greg Cannon said that goes against the Immigrant Trust Directive. To explain the policy, he referenced the Jan. 24 incident in Minneapolis when 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed by ICE agents, the second civilian killing by federal agents this month; Renee Good was shot and killed in her car Jan. 7.
“You see in Minnesota the entire absence of state law enforcement in the arena when you see these videos. That’s intentional,” Cannon said. The “primary concern” of the state and local law enforcement, he said, is “not civil immigration enforcement. It’s public safety and criminal conduct.”
However, Hecht argued that “when this behavior goes unobserved,” it is a public safety matter.
Borough administrator Jim Gant said the policy to keep state and local police separate from federal immigration agents is meant to prevent confusion among residents about whether local police are assisting with federal immigration enforcement. “I think that we only muddy the water if we insert ourselves in the situation.”
In recent months, ICE has been to the borough multiple times, resulting in at least one confirmed arrest Jan. 6 of landscaper Ricardo Paz. An active GoFundMe campaign to cover his legal fees has raised nearly $7,000 so far. Paz is still being held at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark. Another GoFundMe, set up by Red Bank Regional teacher Sarafina Mugavero for a former student who was placed in ICE detention this month, has successfully helped pay for her bond, bringing some hope in the community.
“These past months have taught us both a great deal about our current immigration systems, but more importantly, we’ve witnessed the powerful ways community organizations have stepped up to support families navigating these challenges,” Mugavero wrote on the GoFundMe page Jan. 22.
“It’s pretty scary to have people burst out of cars that aren’t clearly marked, wearing masks, and snatching people,” said Councilmember Ben Forest. “It just seems so profoundly against all the things the United States is supposed to stand for – liberty, rule of law, Constitution, and due process.”
Officials also urged residents to support businesses along Shrewsbury Avenue and the train station area, noting that ICE activity has led to a decline in patronage due to community fears.
“We are on a street that ICE has been active on,” Forest said, noting the lack of people in local stores and restaurants and the “chilling effect” the arrests have had on the borough.
“It’s impacting so many, (here) legally or otherwise,” he said.
Frazee said he has been speaking with Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago about improving communication with federal agencies regarding the identification of federal agents, possibly having them not wear masks, providing clearer information about which officials are involved, and providing advance notice to the borough police about federal operations in the area. Frazee said these actions are a work in progress, but he wanted everyone to be aware of the efforts underway.
The article originally appeared in the January 29 – February 4, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
