Body Cams Show Newark Mayor’s Arrest at ICE Facility

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested and detained for several hours Friday after a confrontation with federal agents at an immigration detention facility, where he had been protesting alongside members of Congress conducting an oversight visit.

The Democratic mayor and gubernatorial candidate was charged with trespassing after allegedly ignoring multiple warnings from Homeland Security officials, according to interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, who announced the arrest via social media.

Conflicting Accounts of the Confrontation

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Baraka told supporters after his release Friday evening, according to CNN. The mayor maintains he was on public property when federal agents took him into custody, contradicting claims he had trespassed.

Video of the incident reportedly shows Baraka being arrested after returning to the public side of the facility gate, following a heated exchange with federal officials who denied him entry to join a congressional tour.

Congressional Members Witness Arrest

Representatives Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman were conducting an unannounced oversight inspection of the Delaney Hall facility when the confrontation occurred, according to Reuters.

Watson Coleman criticized the arrest as “an act of intimidation” and stated that when Baraka was arrested, “he was in the public domain. He was not on their property.” The representatives reported being “shoved around” during the confrontation but were not detained.

Disputed Facility Operations

The detention center, operated by private prison company GEO Group, has been a focal point of controversy, with critics alleging it opened without proper city permits in violation of a state law banning private immigration detention centers.

The Department of Homeland Security disputes these claims, stating in a press release that the facility has “valid permits” and that all necessary inspections have been cleared for its operation.

Political Implications

Baraka, who is among six candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for New Jersey governor in next month’s primary, has made opposition to the detention facility a key issue in his campaign.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued a statement supporting Baraka, calling him “an exemplary public servant” and demanding his immediate release, while state Republicans criticized the mayor’s actions as “unprofessional, reckless, and dangerous.”