New Jersey Mayor Arrested by ICE After Protesting Outside of ICE Facility

NBC NEWS, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey at ICE Facility

On May 9, 2025, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, was arrested outside the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The arrest occurred during a protest against the facility's recent opening.

Mayor Baraka, accompanied by Democratic Representatives Robert Menendez Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIver, was present to inspect the facility and express opposition to its operations. Delaney Hall, operated by the private prison company GEO Group under a $1 billion, 15-year contract with ICE, began detaining individuals on May 1, 2025. Baraka and other local officials have raised concerns about the facility's lack of proper permits and its impact on the community.

According to interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, Baraka was arrested for trespassing after allegedly ignoring multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents to leave the premises. However, witnesses and lawmakers present dispute this account, stating that Baraka had returned to the public side of the facility before his arrest. 

The incident has sparked widespread criticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups, who view the arrest as an abuse of federal power and an attempt to intimidate elected officials. Governor Phil Murphy and Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim have called the arrest disturbing and politically motivated. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the arrest, claiming that the protest endangered detainee and officer safety. DHS officials also accused the lawmakers and protesters of attempting to storm the facility's gates, a characterization disputed by those present.

Mayor Baraka has been a vocal critic of the facility and has previously filed a lawsuit against GEO Group, alleging that Delaney Hall lacks proper permits and violates local ordinances. He maintains that the city's right to protect residents' safety and constitutional rights must be upheld.

The arrest of Mayor Baraka underscores the escalating tensions between local officials and federal immigration authorities over the expansion of detention facilities and enforcement practices. It also highlights the broader political debate surrounding immigration policy and the treatment of elected officials who oppose federal actions.

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