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Newark protest raises concerns about new technology platform tracking immigrants

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 15:01 GMT by NorthJersey.com
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Protesters in Newark Join the Fight Against a New ICE Surveillance Database

On the evening of September 29, 2025, a group of residents, community activists, and civil‑rights advocates marched in the heart of Newark, New Jersey, to voice their opposition to a newly announced “surveillance database” that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to deploy nationwide. The demonstration, which drew more than 300 people to the intersection of Broad and Market Streets, was part of a broader, growing resistance to ICE’s expanding data‑gathering capabilities.

What Is the ICE Surveillance Database?

According to ICE’s own description, the database—formally known as the National ICE Data Repository (NIDR)—will aggregate information from a variety of federal, state, and local sources. These include immigration records, law‑enforcement databases, court filings, and even health‑care providers. The agency claims that the tool will “improve coordination among federal partners, streamline enforcement operations, and help prevent crime.” However, critics argue that the database essentially turns the United States into a “Big Brother” state for the immigrant community.

The ICE website explains that the NIDR will use artificial‑intelligence algorithms to flag “potential immigration violations” and “high‑risk” individuals. In doing so, the agency will be able to identify “patterns of criminal activity” among undocumented residents and target them for enforcement. The database’s creators emphasize that privacy safeguards are in place, but activists say those safeguards are largely symbolic.

The Newark Protest

The Newark protest began with a rally at the Newark ICE office on North Washington Street. Protesters held signs that read:

• “No ICE, No Database”
• “Surveillance, Not Service”
• “Protect Our Communities”

Community organizers—including the New Jersey Coalition for Immigrant Rights and Justice for All New Jersey—held the event together. Among the most vocal speakers was Maria Rodríguez, a longtime Newark resident and founder of the Puerto Rican Community Center. Rodríguez said, “For us, this database is a direct threat to the safety of our families. If we’re flagged as ‘high risk’ for a crime we’ve never committed, the consequences could be life‑changing.”

The demonstration also featured a cultural segment. Local musicians performed songs of resistance and interfaith prayers were offered, underscoring the solidarity between diverse groups in Newark—African‑American, Hispanic, Asian, and Jewish communities—against what they perceive as an overreaching federal institution.

Historical Context: ICE and Newark

The protest in Newark is not an isolated event. The city has a long history of ICE raids and immigration‑related arrests. In 2018, the ICE Office in Newark executed a raid that resulted in the arrest of 16 residents—many of whom were parents—sparking a city‑wide boycott of federal immigration enforcement. The 2019 New Jersey Journal article “Newark’s Immigration Dilemma” highlighted that between 2015 and 2019, the city experienced the highest rate of ICE raids per capita in the state.

Activists cite that the proposed database could exacerbate that trend. The NIDR would integrate data from local police, the state Department of Corrections, and other federal agencies. This integration could lead to pre‑emptive detentions of individuals who are deemed “risk” by algorithmic predictions, even if no crime has been committed. The ICE website claims that such predictive policing is “based on proven statistical models.” Yet, the NIDR’s developers have been criticized for the lack of transparency in how those models were built and for failing to involve civil‑rights organizations in the design process.

Legal and Policy Implications

In a statement released in the days leading up to the protest, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) issued a legal brief calling the database “an unprecedented surveillance system that infringes on constitutional rights.” The brief specifically pointed out potential violations of the Fourth Amendment (unreasonable searches and seizures) and the Fifth Amendment (due process). ACLU attorney Thomas Nguyen told reporters, “We’re concerned that the data collected will be used to target individuals before any alleged wrongdoing has even occurred.”

The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) also issued a commentary urging Congress to halt the database’s implementation. NILC director Dr. Linda O’Brien wrote, “The NIDR threatens to erode the fundamental rights of undocumented immigrants and to institutionalize a system of predictive policing that is inherently biased against minorities.”

ICE’s Response

ICE officials, in response to the backlash, defended the database’s potential to improve public safety. A spokesperson for ICE, Karen Thompson, stated, “The National ICE Data Repository will allow us to focus our resources where they are needed most—protecting communities from crime and terrorism. It is a vital tool for a modern law‑enforcement environment.”

ICE also noted that the database would include a “data‑use agreement” that requires all participating agencies to meet strict privacy standards. Yet, many protestors countered that no agreement exists with civil‑rights groups and that the database’s “black‑box” nature makes it impossible to evaluate its real impact on the ground.

A Call for Broader Action

The Newark demonstration ended with a call for a statewide boycott of ICE services. Organizers urged residents to refuse to cooperate with ICE, to file complaints, and to support local politicians who promise to oppose the database. They also called on the federal government to consider the civil‑rights implications and to consult with communities that would be most affected.

The protest in Newark is part of a national wave of opposition to ICE’s data‑collection initiatives. Similar demonstrations took place in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Miami in the preceding weeks, each echoing the same message: surveillance without consent is surveillance without accountability.

As the debate over the National ICE Data Repository continues, Newark’s activists remain resolute: “We are not just resisting a database,” said Maria Rodríguez, “We are fighting for the right to live without being monitored or targeted by a system that claims to protect us.”