Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was reportedly arrested on Friday after he and several Democratic lawmakers confronted security at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in New Jersey.
This facility, which opened on May 1, has faced scrutiny from local officials, including Baraka, who argued it was operating without proper permission.
The incident began when Baraka and other representatives, including Reps. Bonnie Watson-Coleman and LaMonica McIver, allegedly charged past security as a bus of detainees entered the facility.
DHS reported that the group broke into the detention center, prompting Baraka’s arrest for trespassing. He has been vocal against the facility’s operations, asserting that it should not have opened in Newark.
Newark, NJ Democrat Mayor Ras Baraka just tried to break into a detention center housing illegals to campaign for their release
Has he ever put this much energy into helping his constituents?? pic.twitter.com/Pnfs8vRTTt
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 6, 2025
Following the arrest, Baraka criticized the actions of ICE, claiming they were intimidating and unlawful.
In a statement, Attorney Alina Habba, the Interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, asserted that Baraka ignored multiple warnings and chose to disregard the law, emphasizing that “no one is above the law.”
The situation escalated earlier in the week when Newark officials attempted to block access to the facility by parking a bulldozer at its entrance.
Homan, a representative from DHS, condemned the actions of the lawmakers, stating that they must adhere to the law just like any civilian.
The incident has sparked significant controversy, with Democrats claiming they were exercising their oversight authority, while the DHS maintains that their actions were unlawful.
As tensions rise over immigration enforcement policies, this confrontation highlights the ongoing conflict between local officials and federal immigration authorities.
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