ICE Raids Hit Passaic, NJ: One Detainee Dead, City Changed
ICE arrested at least 75 people in Passaic, New Jersey in July 2026 — and one of them was dead within four days. José Efraín Chajón Raxón, a Guatemalan national detained on July 18, died at a Newark hospital after a medical emergency at Delaney Hall detention facility, becoming the second known death there in less than a month. His death went unannounced for weeks because of a Trump administration rule that stopped recording deaths occurring shortly after release from ICE custody.
At least 75 people were arrested by ICE in Passaic, New Jersey in July 2026 — the highest monthly total since President Trump took office in January 2025. Among them was José Efraín Chajón Raxón, a Guatemalan national detained on July 18. He died less than four days later at University Hospital in Newark after suffering a medical emergency at Delaney Hall, a private immigrant detention facility in Newark managed by GEO Group. His death was the second at Delaney Hall in less than a month.
The arrests reshaped daily life in Passaic, a city where 73% of residents are Hispanic or Latino. Parks that once filled with families and soccer games now sit nearly empty. Business owners on Monroe Street watched their customers disappear. Residents told Documented they avoid main streets, scan their surroundings constantly, and sometimes drive in the wrong direction to avoid ICE agents. "No one wants to come out, everyone is scared," said Gama, a 34-year-old resident and U.S. military veteran who grew up in Passaic. Sandy Hernandez, a Colombian immigrant whose 12-year-old son plays soccer in the park, said coaches sometimes warn families to stay away because ICE has been spotted nearby. "Sometimes when I hear that they are in the area, I tell my kid: 'Baby, you have to go alone,'" she said.
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What Happened at Delaney Hall
Chajón Raxón's death went unannounced for weeks. A Trump administration rule stopped requiring ICE to record deaths that occur shortly after a person is released from custody. Because Chajón Raxón died at a hospital rather than inside the facility itself, U.S. officials did not publicly report his death. Delaney Hall has now seen at least three immigrant deaths in eight months, according to Documented's reporting. The ACLU of New Jersey has also sent a letter alleging cruel visitation policies and medical neglect at the facility. "Folks are really afraid, and knowing that this is where people are going, and that Delaney Hall has such horrific conditions and is now responsible for at least three deaths, just adds to that level of terror," said Molly Linhorst, staff attorney at ACLU of New Jersey.
The week of July 12 alone saw 42 arrests in Passaic — a 4,200% increase compared to the same period the previous year, according to a Documented analysis of ICE arrest data from the Deportation Data Project. Nationwide, the vast majority of people arrested by ICE in July had no criminal history, according to recently released federal data. Many had entered the U.S. through legal channels or had pending asylum cases. Others were arrested while attending immigration court hearings or required check-ins with ICE. One video reported by Univisión showed an ICE agent arresting a man without asking for his identification. Passaic Mayor Hector C. Lora said the city received no advance notice of the July operation. "There is a fundamental difference between enforcing the law and instilling fear across an entire community," he said in a statement.
How the Community Fought Back
Rosaline Martinez, 36, a Brooklyn-born Passaic resident, organized a protest in front of City Hall on July 17, 2026, after watching videos of neighbors being grabbed off the street. Dozens showed up carrying hand-drawn signs and Latin American flags. Major organizations including Make the Road New Jersey and Movimiento Cosecha joined her effort. Since then, community patrols made up of U.S. citizens have formed across the city to alert residents to ICE activity via WhatsApp groups. Restaurants organized food donations. Grocery stores began delivering to families afraid to leave their homes. The mayor's office partnered with Make the Road New Jersey to hold a Know Your Rights seminar at City Hall and launched free rideshare and taxi voucher programs for residents who need safe transportation.
What to Do
- Know your rights before any encounter. You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status or where you were born. You do not have to open your door unless ICE has a signed judicial warrant.
- Carry a Know Your Rights card. Organizations like the ACLU of New Jersey and Make the Road New Jersey distribute these in English and Spanish. Keep one with you at all times.
- Designate an emergency contact. Tell a trusted person — a U.S. citizen friend, family member, or attorney — what to do if you are detained. Write down your A-number (your immigration file number) so they can locate you in the ICE detainee locator system at locator.ice.gov.
- Contact an immigration lawyer immediately if detained. You have the right to call an attorney. Lawyers recommend doing this before answering any questions from ICE officers.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Deportation Defense”.
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Anyone in a community with active ICE enforcement should prepare a family safety plan now — before an arrest happens. That means designating a trusted contact who knows your A-number, having an attorney's phone number memorized or written down, and understanding that you have the right to refuse to answer questions about your immigration status even during a street encounter. If you are detained at a facility like Delaney Hall and believe you are being denied medical care, your attorney can file an emergency motion in federal court. Consult an immigration attorney to review your specific situation and options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE arrest me on the street without a warrant?
Yes. ICE officers can arrest someone in a public place without a judicial warrant if they believe the person is deportable. However, you have the right to remain silent and do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. You can clearly state: 'I am exercising my right to remain silent and want to speak to a lawyer.'
What should I do if a family member is detained by ICE?
First, use the ICE detainee locator at locator.ice.gov to find out where they are being held. You will need their full name and country of birth, or their A-number (immigration file number). Then contact an immigration attorney as quickly as possible — they may be able to request a bond hearing, which is a court proceeding where a judge decides whether your family member can be released while their case continues.
Do I have to open my door if ICE knocks?
No. You do not have to open your door unless ICE presents a judicial warrant signed by a judge. An administrative ICE warrant — which ICE officers often carry — does not give them the legal right to enter your home. Ask them to slide the warrant under the door or hold it up to a window so you can read it before opening.
What is Delaney Hall and why are people concerned about it?
Delaney Hall is a private immigrant detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, managed by GEO Group. As of August 2026, at least three people detained there have died in the past eight months. The ACLU of New Jersey has alleged medical neglect and harsh visitation policies at the facility. ICE did not respond to requests for comment about conditions there.