A Red Bank landscaper is starting his second week in ICE custody following his detainment that was part of a larger sweep in the borough.<\/p>\n
Ricardo Paz, who had a pending case with immigration authorities prior to be taken into custody, is \u201cdevastated and shocked that this has happened,\u201d his attorney Anne Sedki said by phone Tuesday.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t immediately clear how many people were swept up on Bridge Street on Jan. 6. ICE officials have not disclosed how many people were detained.<\/p>\n
Sedki said she has spoken with Paz every day, attempting to keep up his spirits as he remains held at Delaney Hall in Newark. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to keep him hopeful that he would be released eventually from the detention center and pursue his case in immigration court.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sedki has repeatedly tried and failed to get information from ICE officials on why Paz was detained, noting he has showed up to all his previous court appearances \u201cand been compliant in every way. They\u2019re not being responsive to our requests and this is definitely impeding on his due process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paz, who owns and operates Ricardo Paz Landscape & Lawn Care, is the father of a 17-year-old son, according to RedBankGreen.com<\/a>. The website said he is well known for using his bicycle and a trailer to pull equipment to landscaping jobs.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has a family and a business and both will be impacted significantly with his detention,\u201d Sedki told NJ Advance Media. <\/p>\n Paz, who turns 47 this year, was charged but not convicted in connection with a domestic violence incident in 2011. His attorney said she is not sure if that charge impacted ICE\u2019s decision to detain Paz. <\/p>\n Paz is expected to be transferred to the Elizabeth Detention Facility in the coming days, Sedki said. <\/p>\n At last week\u2019s borough council meeting Christina Bonatakis said the ICE raid in Red Bank was upsetting to residents. <\/p>\n