On Monday morning, Oct. 21, 2026, an 18-year-old high school senior in North Bergen, New Jersey, was stopped and questioned by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents while waiting for a friend on his way to school, according to a report by WABC-TV.
George Castillo said the encounter took place at approximately 7:30 a.m. near JFK Boulevard and 85th Street. Asked by Eyewitness News what he was first asked, Castillo stated, “if I was American again and they asked about my age.”
Gloria Estrada, a nearby resident who captured video footage of the interaction, expressed alarm over the scene. “I see that they are speaking to my neighbor, who is a high school student, and that didn’t seem right to me,” Estrada told Eyewitness News, adding that she believed federal agents stereotyped the teenager because of his appearance.
The incident drew immediate condemnation from local lawmakers. Assemblymember Gabriel Rodriguez criticized the operation and pointed out that state regulations mandate that law enforcement officers display their facial identities during the execution of official duties.
A North Bergen high school senior says he was stopped and questioned by masked ICE agents while on his way to school Monday morning, prompting criticism from community members and local officials. pic.twitter.com/O3GRiwi9cZ
“At first glance, it’s heartbreaking,” Rodriguez said, noting that his office is expanding outreach efforts to inform residents of their legal protections. “They want people to feel fear. They’re several or institutions and organizations that have been promoting new rights campaigns, putting out paraphernalia, putting stuff up on websites and social media. Our job now is unfortunately, to extend that information, that education now. So, where parents are having these conversations not only amongst each other and their community partners, but with their children.”
Addressing his peers and neighbors, Castillo offered a direct message regarding the encounter. “I say the people shouldn’t be afraid of these people. They are just people that are just trying to scare you,” Castillo said.
In an official statement provided to Eyewitness News, ICE disputed the allegations made by witnesses and the student. The federal agency stated that claims regarding the questioning of minors or the targeting of schools are entirely false. According to ICE, agents were executing a targeted operation on Monday morning that resulted in the arrests of nine undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds, and maintained that agents spoke exclusively with an adult rather than a minor during the sweep.
Local Reactions and Policy Implications in North Bergen
The confrontation has generated substantial local fallout across North Bergen, fueling ongoing debates regarding federal enforcement tactics and community trust. Local officials continue to assess the adherence of federal personnel to state transparency statutes, particularly concerning the requirement for officers to reveal their facial identities while on duty.
Video of North Bergen high school senior's encounter with ICE agents sparks outrage https://t.co/crvGSvo4A0 pic.twitter.com/810A1EFZwn
Community advocates and municipal leaders are concurrently working to distribute informational resources to immigrant families, emphasizing know-your-rights education in response to the morning encounter.
As questions persist surrounding the actions of the masked agents at the intersection of JFK Boulevard and 85th Street, local legislative offices maintain that community education remains the primary countermeasure against rising anxiety among students and families in the district.
