New Bedford Mayor Urges Residents Back to ‘The Ave’ Following Recent ICE Enforcement Operations

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell is putting the call out for folks to return to the businesses along Acushnet Avenue in the city’s Near North End following last week’s immigration arrests.

Mayor Mitchell Shows Support at Taqueria La Raza

Mitchell posted a video on his Facebook page showing him standing outside Taqueria La Raza with owner Iris de la Rosa.

“I just finished a burrito and I want a nap now,” Mitchell joked to start the video, before turning more solemn.

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“We’re here for a serious topic. We want people to come back to The Avenue,” he said. “It’s been slow since all the ICE activity last week. I want you to know that this place is open and all the other businesses on The Ave are open, so come on out and do as I just did, and have some fabulous food.”

Dramatic ICE Arrests on The Ave

The two were standing just feet away from where one of the arrests took place on Monday, September 21. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stopped a pickup truck at the intersection of Acushnet Avenue and Sawyer Street, and the driver fled the vehicle. He was tackled and tased by the agents.

According to a report in the New Bedford Light, de la Rosa saw the entire encounter from inside her restaurant, telling the Light that she locked the doors after witnessing it.

Scope of Regional ICE Operations Across Greater New Bedford

The Light reported that at least 19 people were arrested in the New Bedford operations. Arrests continued in the following days in Dartmouth and Fall River.