New Jersey Mayor Says 'ICE Has No Business Engaging in Chases' as Pursuit Ends in Crash That Injured Children

A vehicle pursuit by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Newark, New Jersey, ended in a multivehicle crash that injured three children and sent the suspect to the hospital, city officials said.

Mayor Ras Baraka said ICE agents were conducting an investigation on Shanley Avenue when they attempted to pull over a van. The driver fled, prompting a pursuit that ended at Clinton Avenue and 10th Street in a collision involving multiple vehicles, including a rideshare vehicle carrying two 15-year-olds and a 12-year-old.

Police responded around 8:20 a.m. on Wednesday The children were transported to University Hospital for evaluation of complaints of pain. The male suspect was also injured and taken to the hospital. Newark police were not involved in the investigation and responded only to the crash, according to the mayor's office.

Baraka sharply criticized ICE's actions, noting that New Jersey law prohibits vehicle pursuits unless a suspect poses an imminent threat.

"Federal authorities should adhere to local laws regarding vehicle pursuits and exercise common sense," Baraka said. "ICE has no business engaging in chases at anytime, anywhere — but especially in densely populated areas." He added that "somebody could have been killed in Newark today."

Witness Shamad Davis told ABC's Eyewitness News that one of the girls was "crying hysterically" and that the children complained of head pain. "They (ICE) did wrong too because you can't chase him. You chasing him is the reason why he even said, 'oh i'm going to floor it more,'" Davis said.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said on social media that the incident reflects a broader pattern. "Three children were injured in Newark this morning because ICE initiated a vehicle chase — the kind of dangerous pursuit tactic that most police departments have banned," Booker wrote. "I will not vote for another dollar to fund an agency that operates like this in our communities."

Hours later, Baraka signed an executive order aimed at restricting ICE activity in Newark. The order states that ICE agents may not enter public buildings without a judicial warrant and directs city employees to document federal enforcement activity.

The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately comment on the incident.