NEWARK, N.J. — A car chase involving federal immigration enforcement officers led to a multivehicle crash Wednesday in Newark, New Jersey, city officials said.
Mayor Ras Baraka said on social media that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents attempted to pull over a van in the state's largest city when the driver fled. He said the ICE agents gave chase, resulting in an accident involving several vehicles, including one carrying three children.
Federal officials said the crash occurred during a "targeted operation" to arrest Christian Oswaldo Guevara-Guerra, who had been previously charged with receiving stolen property and was issued a final removal order in October 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
"After a head-on collision with a civilian vehicle, Guevara was taken into ICE custody. Three children were taken to the hospital as a result of this illegal alien dangerously fleeing authorities," DHS said in the statement.
Baraka said Newark police were not involved with ICE's investigation and only responded to the crash.
A spokesperson for Baraka and Newark police did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
But the Democratic mayor, in his statement on X, criticized ICE's actions as reckless and dangerous. He noted that New Jersey state law bans law enforcement officials from chasing vehicles unless a suspect poses an immediate threat.
"Federal authorities should adhere to local laws regarding vehicle pursuits and exercise common sense," Baraka said. "Based on the damage they are inflicting on our communities, ICE has no business engaging in chases at anytime, anywhere — but especially in densely populated areas, and on roads still being cleared from a significant snowstorm."
Baraka was arrested and charged with trespassing while protesting last May in front of Delany Hall, a newly opened federal immigration detention center in his city. The charge was later dismissed.
