UPDATE August 16, 2025: Maplewood Police have confirmed that they were at the Maplewood Train Station on August 14, between 12:50 p.m. and 1:23 p.m. responding to a female caller. “Patrols were unable to locate her,” reported Deputy Chief Niheema Malloy. “She had left the area prior to police arrival, she stated she was now in Orange NJ and no longer need police assistance.”
With three eyewitnesses reporting alleged ICE activity in Maplewood Village on August 14, Maplewood officials are providing guidance on how to respond to ICE operations in the Township.
“Anyone can call the non-emergency police number, 973-762-1234, if they observe Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents within the Township solely to report their presence or other suspicious persons and activities,” wrote Maplewood Police Deputy Chief Niheema Malloy in response to an email from Village Green.
“If they believe that the observed actions require an emergency response, they should call 911 to make a urgent report,” Malloy continued. “Reports can be made anonymously, upon request, in both circumstances. The Maplewood Police Department is here to serve and support the safely and security of all residents and persons in our community.”
Since President Donald Trump took office in January, ICE has reported that it is arresting the “worst of worst criminal illegal aliens,” but it’s own data show that “40,461 out of 56,945—or 71.1% held in ICE detention have no criminal conviction according to data current as of July 27, 2025. Many of those convicted committed only minor offenses, including traffic violations.” Numerous stories have also arisen of U.S. citizens being detained by ICE, as well as immigrants following the legal process.
At about 1:10 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, a Maplewood resident reported that ICE was at the Maplewood Train Station at Ricalton Square in the Village.
A Village Green reporter arrived on scene at 1:18 p.m. and, not seeing any ICE agents or vehicles, walked into a local business and asked the employees if they saw any activity outside, not mentioning ICE.
The two employees responded that one ICE vehicle had been parked in one of the parking spots by Valley National Bank and another had been parked perpendicular to the first vehicle. The employees said they observed ICE agents heading down the train station steps into the tunnel. They did not observe ICE making an arrest or detaining any individual. They said they saw “ICE” on officers’ clothing.
Malloy said that Maplewood police did not receive any notice from ICE about any potential activity on August 14.
However, after community members shared with Village Green that DIRE — Deportation & Immigration Response Equipo — had reported that the train station incident was not ICE but MPD responding to a woman in distress, Village Green followed up with Malloy on August 16. Malloy responded that MPD was at the train station at that time. “MPD received a call from the area of the train station at 1250 from a female caller,” wrote Malloy. “Patrols were unable to locate her. She had left the area prior to police arrival, she stated she was now in Orange NJ and no longer need police assistance. MPD closed the call at 1323.”
Mayor Nancy Adams stressed that Maplewood police are not working with ICE — but also that they cannot interfere with ICE activity.
“The Township is following our own Resolution from January of 2017 before Trump’s first term and the AG’s Directive which means our police will not aid or assist ICE actions in our town,” said Adams. “MPD will also not interfere with ICE, but it’s good to call the nonemergency number 973-762-1234 to alert the police when someone sees ICE in Maplewood.”
Per local immigration attorney Kate Reilly, ICE is required to provide deconfliction notices to local law enforcement; however, ICE did not provide deconfliction notice for a June 6 operation in South Orange, per Acting South Orange Police Chief Stephen Dolinac.
ICE Media acknowledged an email from Village Green on August 15 but as of publication has not responded to questions about activity in Maplewood or previous questions related to the June 6 operation in South Orange.
The DIRE Hotline, (888) 347-3767, is a “New Jersey-based rapid response hotline that provides assistance to undocumented individuals and their families facing immigration and detention crises.”
Village Green can be reached at [email protected].
