Three children were injured in Newark as an illegal immigrant from El Salvador on the run from ICE smashed his car into both law enforcement and civilian vehicles in a desperate attempt to escape — but the New Jersey city’s mayor blamed the agency for the trail of destruction.
ICE was conducting a targeted operation to arrest Christian Oswaldo Guevara-Guerra, a Salvadoran national in the country illegally with criminal charges who was first ordered for removal by an immigration judge in October 2017, according to DHS.
Agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Guevara-Guerra in Newark on Wednesday when he attempted to speed away and rammed his vehicle into multiple cars, some of which contained children.
Three children — two 15-year-olds and a 12-year-old — were taken to the hospital as a result of the incident, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat, wrote in an anti-ICE screed scolding the agency for pursuing the suspect in the first place.
“Federal authorities should adhere to local laws regarding vehicle pursuits and exercise common sense,” Baraka wrote, noting that police in his city were not involved in the accident.
“Based on the damage they are inflicting on our communities, ICE has no business engaging in chases at anytime, anywhere — but especially in densely populated areas, and on roads still being cleared from a significant snowstorm,” he continued.
“ICE cannot come into our city and recklessly put innocent people in harm’s way while they try to apprehend their targets.”
Publicly railing against ICE has become fashionable among Democrats in recent months following widespread protests in the Twin Cities after agents shot and killed protesters Renee Good and Matthew Pretti during confrontations last month.
Baraka continued blasting the agency as he closed out his missive.
“This is our city. These are our people. And this behavior is in keeping with a rabid, lawless pattern seen nationally. Somebody could have been killed in Newark today. These agents have to adhere to local laws,” he wrote.
Guevara-Guerra, who’s been previously busted on charges of receiving stolen property, was arrested and treated for injuries at a local hospital.
Baraka is one of many left-wing mayors of US cities who have stood firm in their opposition to President Trump’s historic immigration crackdown, and pledged no local support as federal agents work to remove dangerous criminals from city streets.