Newark, New Jersey: The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Ras Baraka, who is running for governor, was arrested on Friday for trespassing at a privately-operated federal immigration detention center while three U.S. lawmakers were conducting an unannounced inspection, officials confirmed.
Baraka, a Democrat, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a scuffle at the entrance of Delaney Hall, an ICE facility located in Newark, during a visit by U.S. Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Robert Menendez Jr., according to a spokesperson for Representative Watson Coleman.
Ned Cooper, a representative for Watson Coleman, stated that the lawmakers were also “shoved around a bit” during the altercation, although no injuries were reported.
Alina Habba, a former attorney to President Donald Trump and acting U.S. attorney, expressed on social media that Baraka “committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings” to leave the ICE facility. Habba also accused Baraka of “grandstanding” during a subsequent appearance on Fox News.
Following his arrest, Baraka was held at a nearby ICE field office and later charged with a single count of trespassing, according to a criminal complaint filed by Habba’s office. Baraka was released about seven hours later at 8 p.m. After his release, Baraka addressed a group of supporters, stating he had “done nothing wrong” and had visited Delaney Hall to “support my Congress people.” He called on the crowd to disperse peacefully.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, claimed that the lawmakers were part of a group of demonstrators who attempted to force their way into the facility when a bus carrying detainees arrived. The spokesperson added, “These members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and the detainees at risk.”
Cooper, however, refuted claims that the lawmakers stormed the facility, describing their visit as an exercise of their oversight responsibilities as members of Congress. He stated that ICE was obligated to allow the lawmakers access to the detention center. Cooper also clarified that Baraka remained outside the fence surrounding the facility and had frequently shown up in recent days, but was not part of any coordinated protest.
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While the lawmakers were initially denied entry, Cooper recounted that after speaking with guards, they saw a crowd gathering around Baraka, which led to the physical altercation that resulted in his arrest. The lawmakers were eventually allowed into the building and spent about three hours inside before leaving.
Baraka, who is running in a competitive Democratic primary for New Jersey’s governorship next month, is facing increasing scrutiny over his involvement in the incident.
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Immigrant rights activists have long criticized Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed detention center operated by the private prison company GEO Group, alleging that the facility was operating without proper permits and despite strong opposition from local residents and political leaders.
In response, DHS denied that the facility lacked permits and defended its role in holding detainees, including alleged gang members and criminals. GEO Group further emphasized that Delaney Hall operated as a federal immigration processing center for six years under President Obama’s administration, without opposition from local political leaders. The company also highlighted that the facility has created hundreds of unionized jobs and contributed approximately $50 million to the local economy.
