US Prosecutors Charge Newark Mayor After ICE Standoff
Federal prosecutors have charged Newark Mayor Ras Baraka with trespassing following his arrest Friday at an immigration detention center, escalating tensions between federal authorities and local officials over immigration enforcement. Baraka, who is currently campaigning for governor, was taken into custody after a confrontation involving three members of Congress attempting to inspect the controversial Delaney Hall facility.
The mayor appeared before a federal magistrate and was released without bond after approximately five hours in custody, with no plea entered to the misdemeanor charge that carries a maximum penalty of 30 days imprisonment, according to ABC7 New York.
Conflicting Accounts of Detention Center Incident
Video footage shows federal agents arresting Baraka outside the facility’s gate after a tense standoff. Witnesses, including Democratic Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robert Menendez Jr., and LaMonica McIver, insist the mayor had already complied with orders to leave the property when agents detained him in a public area.
“ICE brought to meet the mayor of Newark over 20 armed individuals. Twenty armed individuals to confront the mayor of Newark along with three members of Congress,” Menendez stated, characterizing the response as “an act of intimidation” aimed at both officials and the public.
Immigration Officials Defend Enforcement Actions
Department of Homeland Security officials presented a dramatically different version of events, accusing protesters and lawmakers of “storming the gate” as a bus of detainees was entering the facility. Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a Trump appointee, emphasized in a social media statement that “no one is above the law.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the facility’s legitimacy, stating, “We have valid permits and inspections for plumbing, electricity, and fire codes have been cleared,” as reported by Axios.
Congressional Oversight Powers Disputed
The three members of Congress, who were eventually allowed to enter and inspect the facility, maintained they were exercising legitimate congressional oversight authority. Watson Coleman directly challenged DHS’s characterization of events, stating they did not “storm” the detention center.
“We were exercising our legal oversight function as we have done at the Elizabeth Detention Center without incident,” Watson Coleman clarified. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has demanded that charges against Baraka be dropped and that the “masked agents who physically accosted two Congresswomen” be identified.
Local Opposition to Detention Facility Continues
The arrest comes amid Baraka’s ongoing efforts to block the operation of Delaney Hall, which began housing immigrant detainees on May 1st despite local opposition. The city of Newark previously filed a lawsuit against GEO Group, the private prison company operating the facility, alleging violations of municipal ordinances regarding occupancy permits and safety inspections.
Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Cory Booker have joined other New Jersey Democrats in condemning both Baraka’s arrest and the reopening of the detention center. Booker specifically criticized the 15-year, $1 billion contract awarded to GEO Group, calling it “not about making New Jerseyans safer or fixing our broken immigration system.”
Political Implications for Gubernatorial Race
The incident occurs as Baraka campaigns for the Democratic nomination for governor in the June 10th primary. Political observers note the arrest has significantly increased Baraka’s visibility in a crowded field of six major candidates seeking to succeed term-limited Governor Murphy.
Speaking to supporters after his release, Baraka appeared to frame the confrontation as part of a larger struggle: “All of us here, every last one of us, I don’t care what background you come from, what nationality, what language you speak, at some point we have to stop these people from causing division between us.”
