NJ Residents Reach Settlement With Immigration Officials Over Pre-Dawn Home Raid

Eight New Jersey residents who accused federal immigration officials of conducting warrantless raids of their homes will share $295,000 in a settlement.

The residents and homeowners brought a case in 2008 against more than 30 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers accused of a series of pre-dawn raids.

The Center for Constitutional Rights helped represent the residents. It said Monday federal agents can’t « lie or force their way into people’s homes in the middle of the night, point guns at children and use force » without a warrant or consent.

U.S. permanent resident Ana Galindo says ICE agents barged into her Paterson home, refused to accept her state driver’s license as valid identification and pointed a gun at her 9-year-old son.

ICE officials haven’t responded to a request for comment.