Wayne officials should protect us from ICE agents
By: Diane Douthat
Your Turn
Guest columnist
..... Regarding "Here's how North Jersey towns are saying no to ICE,:NorthJersey.com , May 13. [2026]
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I am a resident of Wayne and have been asking our town government to take action to protect us from federal agents on municipally owned property. At first only the Ward 5 council representative responded to me; the mayor and the other trustees were silent.
..... However, it looks like the third time's the charm, because the mayor finally addressed this at the last council [06/03/2026] meeting; he said the town wouldn't pass this resolution because it has no authority to do so.
..... In March 2022, the Wayne Township council passed a resolution supporting Ukraine. In March 2024, the council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Did the council believe it resolution would end Putin's war on Ukraine or lead to a ceasefire in Gaza?
..... I've been advocating for our town to pass a resolution, as other towns have, to require ICE, Customs and Border Protection and other federal agents to have a judicial warrant signed by a judge in order to take action on town-owned property. That would include our parks and our town pool, our library and our community center, as will as many of the sites where we'll be voting. Teaneck, North Bergen, Collingswood and Bloomfield are a few New Jersey towns that have done this - why won't our Wayne mayor and council pass such a resolution to keep us safe?
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I'm a retied educator and spent most of my teaching career in Wayne's schools. I see many of my former students and their families around town; some are immigrants, and I worry about them. I'm concerned for Wayne's children, and about the trauma these young people could experience if they witness some of the cruel and violent things we've seen federal agents do in other places. That's why I posted a petition on change.org , an Online petition site, to urge our mayor and trustees to pass this resolution. According to recent census data 20% of Wayne residents - more than 10,000 people - ear foreign born.
..... I'm also concerned that some federal agents who are not honoring our Constitution may case residents here in Wayne and in other towns to be afraid to report crimes or to come forward when they witness criminal actions. Our Wayne police are truly her to serve and protect us; however, all the trust they've built up over decades could be destroyed by some federal agents who are not honoring their oath to uphold our Constitution.
..... If you live in Wayne, please go to Change.org and sign my petition," "Pass a Resolution to Protect our Constitutional Rights." And please contact our mayor and council members and urge the to pass this resolution now!
..... This is not about left and right, it;s about right and wrong. All of us deserve to be safe; ti's the job of our elected officials to take action to ensure the safety of all residents, whatever there immigration status.
..... Diane Douthat lives in Wayne.