Local News
The Department of Homeland Security says the employee previously entered the U.S. illegally and was arrested Friday by police on three counts of extortion.
Newburyport Mayor Sean R. Reardon criticized an ICE operation at a local nail salon that resulted in the detention of an employee and left customers shaken.
The operation took place Tuesday at Fantasy Nails on Low Street in Newburyport. The city received reports from eyewitnesses that agents entered the salon “with guns drawn,” Reardon said in a press release, describing the incident as “incredibly frightening and traumatic.”
“The City of Newburyport does not condone the manner in which this operation was carried out,” Reardon said. “Federal immigration enforcement should never come at the expense of the safety and sense of security of an entire workplace or surrounding community.”
Reardon said neither the city nor the Newburyport Police Department participated in the operation or received advance notice that it would take place.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, identified the employee as Jun Qiu, a Chinese national. Qiu runs Fantasy Nails, per online business records.
A DHS spokesperson disputed Reardon’s account in a statement to Boston.com, calling the mayor’s claims “categorically false and just another attempt to smear the hard work” of ICE agents.
“Sanctuary politicians must stop putting politics above public safety,” the spokesperson said. “This type of insanity leads to more crimes and more innocent victims. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, ICE is targeting the worst of the worst.”
DHS said Qiu entered the U.S. illegally and will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. The agency noted Qiu will “receive due process.”
According to DHS, Qiu was arrested Aug. 14 on three counts of extortion, which the agency described as involving “threats to injure a person” and “harassing communication.”
“Newburyport PD released this criminal onto the streets instead of safely transferring him to ICE custody,” the DHS spokesperson said.
Court records show Qiu was arrested pursuant to a warrant issued Aug. 14 by Newburyport District Court. The records list four misdemeanor charges: one count of criminal harassment and three counts of threat to commit a crime.
Qiu was arraigned that day. He pleaded not guilty, according to court records.
A police report alleges that Qiu “willfully and maliciously” engaged in a pattern of acts between Aug. 5 and Aug. 12 directed at another person, causing serious alarm and “substantial emotional distress.”
The report also states Qiu threatened to kill another person and threatened to “smash” another person’s “head in with hammer.”
Reardon said the city is actively gathering more information regarding the operation and plans to share further details once confirmed.
The mayor concluded his statement with a message to the immigrant community in Newburyport.
“If you are an immigrant living, working, raising a family, or running a business in Newburyport, please know that you are a valued member of this community,” Reardon said. “We care about you, and you are part of what makes Newburyport the welcoming and vibrant city that it is.”
Fantasy Nails did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Attorney information for Qiu was not immediately available.
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