ACLU calls Hudson County exec’s restraining order ‘extraordinary.’ It wasn’t meant in a good way.
Updated Dec 15, 2020;
An ACLU attorney called the temporary restraining order filed against protesters by the Hudson County executive and five freeholders “heavy-handed” and an “extraordinary” action Tuesday after asking the court to expedite the case.
The TRO was filed by Tom DeGise on behalf of himself and Freeholders Anthony Vainieri, Tony Romano, Albert Cifelli, Kenny Kopacz and Caridad Rodriguez after a group began protesting nightly in front of his Jersey City home over the recently approved county contract with the federal Immigration, Customs and Enforcement to detain illegal immigrants at the Hudson County jail.
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The Hudson County Sheriff Department placed several people under arrest last week after a judge approved a restraining order effectively preventing ICE protests near Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise s home.
Residents region-wide continued to speak out against Hudson County’s decision to renew its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week.
This comes after the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders voted 6-3 on Nov. 24 to renew their contract with ICE to house their detainees at Hudson County Correctional Facility for $120 per person per day despite nearly nine hours of public comment in opposition.
Holding a grudge: More than 50 speakers rap Hudson freeholders again over ICE deal and restraining order
Updated Dec 12, 2020;
The clash between immigration advocates and Hudson County officials continued Thursday night with more than 50 speakers scolding the freeholders over renewing a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and filing a restraining order against protesters.
Amy Torres and Kason Little, two people named in a temporary restraining order filed by County Executive Tom DeGise and five of the six freeholders who voted in favor of the ICE deal to house detainees at Hudson County jail, appeared in person at the freeholders’ regular meeting to criticize the freeholders and DeGise.
JERSEY CITY Emotions continue to run high as a renewed agreement with federal immigration officials prompted several nights of protests in Hudson County and now a restraining order against the demonstrations.
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, as well as five county freeholders all Democrats had sought the temporary restraining order against activists demonstrating in front of DeGise’s home in Jersey City and the homes of the others named.
After an hours-long public hearing on the issue Nov. 24, the county recently renewed its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to continue housing federal detainees in Hudson County jail.
That move came despite a proposal by DeGise in September 2018 to wind down the agreement, as reported previously by the Wall Street Journal.