LaMonica McIver indicted by federal grand jury over ICE protest, could face up to 17 years in prison
Rep. LaMonica McIver, a Democrat from New Jersey, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to an incident during a protest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. The indictment includes three counts of forcibly interfering with federal law enforcement officers, which could lead to a maximum sentance of 17 years in prison. The charges stem from a protest on May 9, where McIver, alongside other officials, allegedly obstructed a detainee transport bus and breached the facility’s gate. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba emphasized the need to protect law enforcement during their duties, stating her efforts to resolve the situation without criminal charges were declined by McIver. McIver has described the indictment as political intimidation, asserting her actions were part of her duties as an elected official, and she plans to plead not guilty.
LaMonica McIver indicted by federal grand jury over ICE protest, could face up to 17 years in prison
A federal grand jury indicted Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) on charges of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during a protest at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center last month.
McIver was indicted on three counts of forcibly impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement officers at the New Jersey facility and could face a maximum of 17 years in prison.
“As I have stated in the past, it is my Constitutional obligation as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for New Jersey to ensure that our federal partners are protected when executing their duties,” U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba said on X. “While people are free to express their views for or against particular policies, they must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve.”
Habba charged McIver on May 19 with assaulting an ICE officer during a May 9 protest in which McIver, along with Reps. Rob Menendez (D-NJ) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), as well as Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, allegedly obstructed the arrival of a detainee transport bus and forcibly breached the gate.
Habba said she attempted to work with McIver to prevent pressing charges against her.
“I have persistently made efforts to address these issues without bringing criminal charges and have given Representative McIver every opportunity to come to a resolution, but she has unfortunately declined,” Habba said in a statement.
McIver issued a statement in which she shared she was just “doing her job” by engaging in the protests outside of the ICE detention center, calling the indictment against her “political intimidation.” She said she will enter a not guilty plea.
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“This indictment is no more justified than the original charges, and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE caused and scare me out of doing the work I was elected to do,” McIver said in a statement. “But it won’t work — I won’t be intimidated.”
Habba decided to dismiss Baraka’s misdemeanor charges for trespassing “for the sake of moving forward.”
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