North Bergen's Sacco and commissioners condemn ICE confrontation outside local school, vow to deny agents access to school buildings without a warrant

NORTH BERGEN — North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the township’s Board of Commissioners on Monday condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the township, saying residents and ICE agents had a verbal altercation outside a local public school that morning and that they “will take whatever legal action we can to protect our students, including denying access to school buildings without a warrant.”

The joint statement, released Monday evening by the Township of North Bergen, also said the North Bergen school district is investigating, and called on ICE “to cease its operations in Hudson County.”

The statement does not name the school, say where it is or describe what led to the confrontation. Hudson TV has not independently identified the school or verified the video, and is not naming a school.

What the township said

“The ongoing presence of masked ICE agents in our community is continuing to cause widespread fear and outrage among North Bergen residents,” the mayor and commissioners said. “While our local government has extremely limited authority regarding federal law enforcement actions, we want residents to know that we share their concerns and are monitoring the situation closely.”

“This morning there was a verbal altercation between residents and ICE agents outside of a local public school, and video of the incident is being shared widely on social media,” the statement continued. “The North Bergen school district is investigating the situation, and we want parents and all residents to know that we are taking this issue seriously and will take whatever legal action we can to protect our students, including denying access to school buildings without a warrant.”

“We join immigration advocates and residents in calling on ICE to cease its operations in Hudson County and stop terrorizing our communities,” it said. “We will remain vigilant to ensure that North Bergen is a safe place for everyone.”

The township first sent a version of the release at about 5 p.m. Monday that quoted Sacco and Commissioner Hugo Cabrera separately, then sent a revised version about 30 minutes later presenting the remarks as a joint statement of the mayor and the Board of Commissioners. This story quotes the revised version.

Rep. Menendez: ICE “has no business targeting our schools”

Earlier Monday, U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez wrote on X that “ICE was stopping and questioning students on their way to school this morning in North Bergen.” He called it “completely unacceptable” and added: “ICE has no business targeting our schools or stopping and questioning our children. Full stop.” Hudson TV has not independently confirmed that students were stopped or questioned; the township’s statement describes a verbal altercation between residents and agents.

What state guidance says about school access

New Jersey Department of Education guidance for schools says that, absent exigent circumstances, school staff must first get direction from the district’s chief school administrator when immigration agents seek access. “Chief School Administrators are not required to grant access to school premises absent an official judicial search warrant or arrest warrant signed by a judge or exigent circumstances,” the guidance says. “An administrative immigration warrant is not sufficient to require admittance.”

Background

In February, Hudson TV reported that the Board of Commissioners had introduced an ordinance barring federal immigration authorities from using township-owned property, including parks, parking lots and municipal facilities, as staging areas or operational bases for civil immigration enforcement.

Sacco, who has led North Bergen since 1991, announced on Oct. 8 that he is retiring, with his resignation effective Oct. 28, and endorsed Cabrera to succeed him, Hudson TV reported at the time.

Hudson TV has asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment and will update this story if the agency responds.

Hudson TV will update this story with more information from the school district or the township.

Hudson TV asks: Should North Bergen put staff at school drop-off spots and bus stops when ICE activity is reported nearby: yes or no? Share your take in the comments.