Hoboken, Jersey City Residents Alarmed by Reported ICE Arrests

Community leaders call for action after videos show agents detaining local workers

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:31pm

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Tensions are running high in Hudson County, New Jersey, after reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arresting several people in Hoboken and Jersey City earlier on Sunday. Nearly 200 people attended an emergency meeting in Hoboken to learn more about their rights, with residents expressing fear and calling for local police to intervene when they witness ICE agents using unmarked vehicles.

Why it matters

The reported ICE activity has left many immigrant residents feeling unsafe in their own communities, sparking concerns about racial profiling and the erosion of trust between law enforcement and the public. Local leaders are responding by seeking ways to protect their immigrant populations and calling for policy changes to address the issue.

The details

According to Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour, cellphone video shows an ICE agent in an unmarked car making an arrest at a light rail station near the Jersey City border. Jabbour said two of the three people arrested were local business employees. At the emergency meeting, residents were given guidance on their legal rights and how to seek legal help, with some calling on local police to intervene when they see ICE agents using unmarked vehicles.

  • Earlier on Sunday, February 2, 2026, ICE agents reportedly made several arrests in Hoboken and Jersey City.

The players

Emily Jabbour

The mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, who sent out an alert warning that three people were arrested, two of them local business employees.

James Solomon

The mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, who last week signed an executive order protecting the city's immigrants and is echoing calls for change.

Andrew Wilson

A Hoboken resident who called for local police to take a stronger role in addressing the issue, saying ICE agents use unmarked, unregistered vehicles to avoid identification.

Ernest Boyd

A Hoboken resident who expressed concern that ICE's actions could affect all community members, not just immigrants.

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What they’re saying

“These stories are deeply troubling. It makes you feel unsafe in your own community and it makes you worry for your neighbors.”

— Emily Jabbour, Mayor of Hoboken

“We know these agents use unmarked, unregistered vehicles in order to avoid identification. If a police officer sees an unmarked, unregistered car, they need to pull that driver over immediately and impound that vehicle.”

— Andrew Wilson, Hoboken resident

“The videos are disturbing and show people on their way to work being detained. That makes us less safe.”

— James Solomon, Mayor of Jersey City

“People don't want their neighbor kidnapped. Right now, [ICE] is coming for migrants. It's going to come for all of us. It doesn't matter if you're white, if you're Black, if you're Latino.”

— Ernest Boyd, Hoboken resident

What’s next

Hoboken officials say more community meetings are planned in the coming days to further address the issue and provide guidance to residents.

The takeaway

The reported ICE activity in Hoboken and Jersey City has left many immigrant residents feeling unsafe and has sparked calls for stronger local policies and police intervention to protect vulnerable community members. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and concerns surrounding immigration enforcement in diverse urban areas.