Mayor of Newark Arrested During ICE Detention Center Visit
In a surprising turn of events, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested Friday afternoon at the Delaney Hall detention center while accompanying members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation. The facility, which has recently begun housing migrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has been the center of controversy and protests, particularly from Baraka and local advocates who deem its operation illegal.
According to U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, Baraka was charged with trespassing after he allegedly ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to leave the premises. In a statement, Habba emphasized, "NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW," shortly after Baraka’s initial court appearance, where he was subsequently released.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy expressed his outrage over the incident, stating that Baraka and other advocates have long protested the opening of the private detention center, highlighting its potential dangers. Murphy previously enacted a law prohibiting such facilities in the state and has been actively defending that legislation in court.
The situation escalated as two members of Congress, Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman, were reportedly involved in a protest at the facility, leading to claims from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that the lawmakers "stormed the gate," thereby endangering both law enforcement and detainees.
Menendez and Watson Coleman, however, characterized Baraka’s arrest as an intimidating tactic designed to silence dissent. They assert that Baraka was merely in a public space when taken into custody. As tensions rise, further developments are expected in this unfolding story. Stay tuned for updates.
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