Rumored ICE Raid In Cherry Hill Did Not Happen, Police Say

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Federal law enforcement gathered en masse in Cherry Hill earlier this month to search for a fugitive wanted in another state — not to detain anyone for immigration purposes — officials said at Monday's Township Council meeting.

Rumors of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Cherry Hill have been prevalent since June 9, when a large number of officers, including U.S. Marshals, conducted an investigation in the township.

Several people attended Monday's council meeting wondering what happened that day, and how local officials would handle ICE's potential presence in the township.

A state mandate prohibits all law enforcement under New Jersey's umbrella from assisting with investigations based solely on a person's immigration status.

Mayor David Fleisher said he also sets "high expectations and high professional standards (for Cherry Hill police), including a culture of treating everyone with dignity, respect and compassion."

"Given the national political climate around immigration, I certainly understand concerns and anxiety around incidents involving federal law enforcement," Fleisher said.

On June 9, U.S. Marshals searched for a man wanted out of Maryland who was arrested later that day in Trenton. The suspect, Darlin Franco-Guzman, was charged with fourth-degree home burglary in the state a week prior.

Franco-Guzman also tried to sexually assault a minor in Baltimore County, Deputy U.S. Marshal Kevin Kamrowski told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

ICE filed an immigration detainer against Franco-Guzman, a Honduran national who is undocumented, the Inquirer says. He has been extradited to Maryland, where he remains jailed. However, he is not in ICE's custody, according to the federal agency's records.

Federal Marshals lead fugitive task forces throughout the country, which aid law enforcement from the local to federal levels with finding suspects at large. The U.S. Marshals Service also assists ICE with carrying out immigration arrests, leading to confusion among Cherry Hill residents.

On the morning of June 9, the regional fugitive task force notified Cherry Hill police that U.S. Marshals were coming to the township to serve a criminal warrant on the 100 block of Wesley Avenue. They did not request help from local police, said Cherry Hill Police Cpt. John Ostermueller.

Shortly after, Cherry Hill police became aware of a large law enforcement area in the area, along with numerous officers in the park along Park Boulevard.

Later that day, Cherry Hill police were notified that the Marshals had taken the investigation elsewhere. No one besides the suspect was arrested in the investigation, Ostermueller said at the council meeting.

Local concerns about ICE have arisen as President Donald Trump attempts to make good on campaign promises of mass deportations of immigrants living in the United States illegally.

Throughout President Trump's second term, ICE officers have been criticized for concealing their identities with masks, failing to display badges, and denying due process to people they're detaining, including legal U.S. residents.

In February, ICE raided Haddon Township restaurant Jersey Kebab and detained restaurant owners Celal and Emine Emanet — a married couple from Turkey who live in Cherry Hill. Community members have rallied around the Emanet family since, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars of their legal defense.

Their eldest son, Muhammed Emanet, also says ICE detained him in 2020. He and his parents all have deportation cases pending in immigration court.

At Cherry Hill's recent council meeting, several residents said ICE should not feel welcome in the township.

"As said during the ‘No Kings’ rally in Philadelphia, the only good ice is water ice," said resident Val Sadwin, playing up a regional accent on the latter two words. "ICE is not welcome in Cherry Hill."

Betty Atkins says she has Native American ancestry and has lived in the township for 55 years. But she expressed fear that ICE could arrest her based on her skin color.

"If they think they’re doing the right thing, if they think they’re picking up immigrants who are not good people," Atkins said, "why are they approaching them with a mask on?"

A couple residents also defended ICE and pleaded for local police to cooperate with them, despite the state mandate.

"We’re not saying just come in willy-nilly, but I’m also not saying don’t cooperate with them or that they’re not welcome here," said resident Nicole Nance, who has previously run for local office as a Republican and independent. "Anyone here to ensure our safety is welcome in Cherry Hill."