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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.
Hudson County View
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Prior to the public portion, the board voted on at least two agenda items of note: purchasing 800 mattresses for the Hudson County Correctional Facility for $168,000, as well as 10 new vehicles for the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Specifically, the HCPO was seeking 10 Chevrolet Malibu LS 1FL Sedans for $167,760.
Both items passed easily, with the mattress purchase being approved unanimously (9-0) and the vehicles being approved 8-1, with Jersey City Freeholder Bill O’Dea (D-2) voting no.
At the November 24th freeholder meeting, the ICE contract was renewed for up to another decade, after just over 10 hours of discussion, by a vote of 6-3.
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.
Hudson County View
A file photo of the West New York Board of Education from April 25th, 2019.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The Board may wish to hold a special meeting, or dedicate a regular meeting, in January 2021 to appoint Board members to fill these vacancies,” according to a memo obtained by HCV.
“This meeting may also be used to handle any other business impacted by the change in the election date and the resulting lack of a reorganization meeting in January 2021.”
On August 7th, 2019, the West New York Board of Commissioners unanimously approved (5-0) a measure to move their school board elections from November to April, which neighboring municipalities Weehawken and North Bergen already do.
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.