Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in New Jersey on May 9 after attempting to enter the facility during a protest led by Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates.
Baraka, who is also running for governor, was charged with trespassing after reportedly ignoring repeated orders from federal agents to leave the premises. The incident occurred during an unannounced visit by members of Congress, including Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Rob Menendez Jr., who claimed they were there to conduct an oversight inspection.
The group voiced concerns that the facility had resumed operations without proper municipal authorization and questioned the conditions within, citing possible safety and legal violations. Homeland Security officials criticized the group’s actions, accusing them of jeopardizing security and disrupting operations.
The city of Newark has filed a lawsuit against the facility’s private operator, GEO Group, challenging the legitimacy of the center’s reopening and asserting that it failed to comply with local regulatory requirements.
The confrontation highlights escalating tensions between local officials and federal immigration authorities amid growing scrutiny of detention practices and facility oversight.