The Trump administration issued a stern warning on Saturday to three Democratic lawmakers regarding potential arrests following their involvement in a protest at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Newark, New Jersey. The protest took place at Delaney Hall, where Newark’s Mayor, Ras Baraka, was detained amidst escalating tensions surrounding the facility's operations.
According to Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the situation is serious. She revealed to CNN that body camera footage exists which allegedly shows some congressional members engaging in violent actions against ICE enforcement officers, including an incident involving the assault of a female officer. “There will likely be more arrests coming,” McLaughlin stated, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing and that arrests are “definitely on the table.”
New Jersey Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver joined Mayor Baraka, who is a key contender in the upcoming gubernatorial race, in the protest against the ICE facility. This facility, operated by GEO Group, recently reopened, prompting local leaders to call for its closure. On Friday, US Attorney Alina Habba confirmed Mayor Baraka's arrest, stating that he had committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from DHS officials to vacate the premises.
In response to his arrest, Mayor Baraka criticized the DHS, claiming that the agency's actions escalated the situation. “The reality is Alina Habba wasn’t there; she doesn’t know what happened,” Baraka contended. He insisted that during his hour-long presence at the facility, he received no directives to leave from ICE officers or security personnel. “Somebody from Homeland Security came in the end and began to escalate the situation,” he argued, elaborating on the context of his presence.
After spending a brief period in custody, Baraka was released on Friday night. Video footage shared on social media platform X depicted him being escorted in handcuffs by Homeland Security Investigations officers. “I didn’t go there to break any laws. I didn’t break any laws,” he reiterated on Saturday, asserting his intentions during the protest.
Newark City Councilmember Kenyatta Stewart echoed Baraka's sentiments, stating that the mayor was invited into Delaney Hall by a GEO security guard. Stewart noted, “Then, as we were waiting for the congressman, they asked him to leave, and he did, and they arrested him outside the gate.” While members of Congress possess legal rights to visit ICE facilities under their oversight authority, these rights do not extend to Mayor Baraka, who had previously attempted to block the facility’s reopening.
Baraka has voiced concerns that the ICE facility is operating illegally, a claim that has been firmly denied by GEO Group. The controversy surrounding the Delaney Hall facility, especially given its previous use as a migrant detention center under the Obama administration, continues to spark heated debates among local officials and community members.
