Newark mayor arrested during protest where lawmakers ‘stormed’ ICE prison – Washington Examiner
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for trespassing at the Delaney Hall Detention Center, were Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detains illegal immigrants. His arrest occurred during a protest where he was accompanied by Democratic Congressmen Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie watson Coleman. The protest escalated when the Congress members allegedly “stormed” the facility, leading to their intervention by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS criticized the lawmakers’ actions as hazardous and illegal, stating that members of Congress cannot unlawfully enter detention facilities. Baraka’s defiance against the law coincides with his candidacy for New Jersey governor in 2026. The incident has drawn criticism and raised questions regarding the behaviour of the participating Democratic politicians.
Newark mayor arrested during protest where lawmakers ‘stormed’ ICE prison
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested by police at Delaney Hall Detention Center, used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain illegal immigrants in his city, for trespassing at the facility.
Two Democratic U.S. Congressmen “stormed” the ICE prison according to the Department of Homeland Security, which said such conduct “goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk.”
“The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon,” Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba, who is also a counselor to President Donald Trump, said in a post on X. “He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”
Reps. Rob Menendez (D-NJ), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) were at the facility with Baraka to protest the ICE prison.
A video showed Baraka being arrested, and McIver can be heard in the background saying something like, “Put your hands off me!”
Video shared w/ @Axios of the moment Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested: https://t.co/Spvhs7LygX pic.twitter.com/AEUXmmSmbk
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) May 9, 2025
Coleman and Menendez “stormed the gate” of the facility and “holed up” in a guard shack at the first security checkpoint, the DHS said in a press release.
“Today, as a bus of detainees was entering the security gate of Delaney Hall Detention Center, a group of protestors, including two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility. Representatives Robert Menendez, Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman and multiple protestors are holed up in a guard shack, the first security check point,” the statement says.
A DHS spokesperson called the matter “an evolving situation.
“Members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation,” Tricia McLaughlin said.
The statement adds that the permits for the facility are valid, and that the allegations by the Newark politicians that they aren’t are false. Inspections for plumbing, electricity, and fire codes have been cleared.
The National Republican Congressional Committee slammed the Democrats involved in the protest in a post on X, asking if their colleagues support their “unhinged” behavior.
“House Democrats must answer, do they support this unhinged attempt to obstruct justice and block deportations of criminal illegal migrants?” the NRCC wrote.
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Baraka is a candidate for New Jersey governor in 2026 to replace incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ). He’s facing a crowded Democratic field that also includes Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), among others.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Newark Mayor’s office, but did not receive a response.
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