On Friday afternoon, a tense showdown unfolded outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, when Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, along with three members of Congress, was involved in a controversial protest that led to his arrest.
The incident has sparked outrage among MAGA supporters and government officials, raising questions about the legalities surrounding the protest and the broader implications for U.S. immigration policy.
The Arrest of Ras Baraka and the Controversy Surrounding the Protest
The scene unfolded when Baraka and Democratic Reps. Rob Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIver arrived at the ICE detention center.
While the congresspeople were allowed inside for a scheduled tour, Baraka stayed outside in a fenced-in parking lot, where protestors gathered. He was asked to leave but was subsequently detained by ICE agents, even after complying with their request to move.
Interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, a Trump advisor, defended the arrest, stating that Baraka had committed trespassing by refusing to leave after being warned. Habba tweeted, “That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”
The Response from Democratic Leaders
Rep. Watson Coleman responded to the arrest, emphasizing that she and her colleagues were simply exercising their legal oversight functions, a right they have exercised in similar visits to other detention facilities without incident.
She criticized the reopening of Delaney Hall, arguing that it would not make communities safer or contribute to a fair and secure immigration system.
Her response came after a statement by Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs in the Department of Homeland Security, who criticized the protest as a “bizarre political stunt.”
McLaughlin claimed that the members of Congress had stormed the gates of the facility, and she called their actions a violation of the law. She also suggested that their claims of exercising oversight were “laughable.”
MAGA Backlash: Calls for Prosecution
MAGA supporters and right-wing figures quickly took to social media, labeling the protest as criminal and urging that those involved be arrested. Some, like Libs of TikTok’s Chaya Raichik, echoed Trump’s rhetoric, emphasizing that “no one is above the law” and calling for Baraka and the congresspeople to face legal consequences.
Benny Johnson, a pro-MAGA YouTuber, also criticized Rep. McIver, accusing her of “breaking into a New Jersey ICE facility” and calling for her expulsion from Congress and prosecution.
Political Fallout and New Jersey Democratic Responses
New Jersey’s Democratic leadership quickly rallied in defense of Baraka, calling for his immediate release. Governor Phil Murphy expressed outrage over the arrest, with Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) labeling the arrest an “absolute outrage.”
Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim also weighed in, with Booker calling the arrest “disturbing” and highlighting concerns about the increasing use of ICE tactics that he believes undermine community safety.
Rep. Kim confirmed that Baraka’s arrest was due to trespassing and revealed that he had contacted ICE officials, who confirmed the details of the incident. Kim also reached out to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in an attempt to resolve the matter.
The Bigger Picture: ICE and the Weaponization of Power
Watson Coleman, speaking to the media after the protest, described ICE’s actions as “weaponizing” its power and using excessive force. She and others argued that the incident was an example of how ICE’s aggressive tactics are being used to suppress dissent and intimidate political leaders.
The protest at Delaney Hall has now become a symbol of the larger struggle over U.S. immigration policy, particularly the ongoing debate about the role of detention facilities and the treatment of individuals in ICE custody.
As of now, Baraka was being held at an ICE field office in Newark, and New Jersey Democrats were working to secure his release. This incident has become another flashpoint in the increasingly polarized debate over immigration and the Trump administration’s immigration policies, with both sides accusing each other of overreach.