NORTH BERGEN, New Jersey (WABC) — A North Bergen high school senior says he was stopped and questioned by masked ICE agents while on his way to school Monday morning, prompting criticism from community members and local officials.
George Castillo, 18, said he was waiting for a friend at JFK Boulevard and 85th Street at about 7:30 a.m. Monday when the encounter occurred.
“I was just confused,” Castillo said.
Asked by Eyewitness News what the first question was, Castillo responded: “if I was American again and they asked about my age.”
Gloria Estrada, who recorded video of the encounter, said she was concerned by what she witnessed.
“I see that they are speaking to my neighbor, who is a high school student, and that didn’t seem right to me,” she said. “I just thought it’s not right what they’re doing because I was just a high school student who was probably waiting for their friend or just wanting to sit down really quickly, and they stereotyped him for being looking Hispanic.”
Assemblymember Gabriel Rodriguez criticized the incident and said New Jersey law requires law enforcement officers, including federal officers, to reveal their facial identities while performing official duties.
“At first glance, it’s heartbreaking,” Rodriguez said.
He said his office is increasing efforts to educate residents about their rights.
“They want people to feel fear,” Rodriguez said. “They’re several or institutions and organizations that have been promoting new rights campaigns, putting out paraphernalia, putting stuff up on websites and social media. Our job now is unfortunately, to extend that information, that education now. So, where parents are having these conversations not only amongst each other and their community partners, but with their children.”
Castillo said he has a message for others in the community.
“I say the people shouldn’t be afraid of these people. They are just people that are just trying to scare you,” he said.
In a statement to Eyewitness News, ICE disputed the allegations.
The agency said allegations that ICE questioned minors or targeted schools are false. ICE said agents were conducting a targeted operation Monday during which they arrested nine undocumented immigrants with criminal histories and that, during the operation, they spoke with an adult, not a child.
The incident has sparked outrage in North Bergen as questions continue about the encounter and the actions of federal agents.
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