Mayor of Newark denies accusations of unauthorized entry at an immigration detention facility after being detained.
Slingin' Words
NEWARK MAYOR RAS BARAKA LABELS ARREST AT IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER A POLITICAL STUNT
In a heated turn of events on Saturday, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has accused the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of orchestrating a political stunt during his arrest at a newly reopened federal immigration detention center, Delaney Hall.
The arrest, which took place on May 2025, came as Baraka protested the center's opening, arguing that it should not be allowed to open due to building permit issues. Baraka was released later that day, having spent several hours in custody for trespassing and ignoring warnings to leave the facility.
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary for public affairs with the Department of Homeland Security, spoke with CNN on Saturday and hinted that the investigation was ongoing. McLaughlin also chastised Baraka, a Democrat seeking his party's nomination for governor, for playing "political games."
However, Baraka maintains that he was invited to the facility for a press conference. He asserts that he was not arrested on the premises but on the sidewalk, after exiting the secure area.
Eyewitness Accounts
According to reports, the arrest occurred after Baraka tried to join three members of New Jersey's congressional delegation—Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman—in an attempt to enter the facility. Federal officials allegedly blocked his entry, leading to a heated argument.
Viri Martinez, an activist with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, said there was yelling and pushing, and federal officers eventually swarmed Baraka, detaining him and taking him away in an unmarked car.
Despite DHS claims that the lawmakers had not requested a tour of Delaney Hall, the three congressional representatives insisted that their intention was not to take a scheduled tour but to inspect the facility unannounced, as they have done at other locations without incident.
A Contentious Negotiation
The Geo Group, the private prison operator that runs Delaney Hall, was quick to celebrate the center's contract. During an earnings call with shareholders, CEO David Donahue announced that the facility was expected to generate over $60 million in annual revenue. The facility reportedly started the intake process on May 1.
Baraka has already sued Geo Group after the deal was announced in February 2025, and the ongoing saga between the mayor and DHS continues to pile on, infuriating both supporters and opponents of the detention center's operation.
The Takeaway
The dispute between Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and DHS may well turn out to be a watershed moment in the ongoing struggle between local authorities and the federal government over immigration enforcement tactics. With charges still pending, the situation continues to polarize opinions, and the legal and political battle is far from over.
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In the midst of heated politics, Seattle's premier news station, K5 News, reported on the controversial arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who is vying for the Democratic nomination for governor, at a general news event involving crime and justice – a reopened immigration detention center in Seattle. this arrest, which took place amidst protests against the center's opening due to building permit issues, is now under investigation, with the Department of Homeland Security alleging that Baraka was playing political games. However, Baraka asserts that he was invited for a press conference and was not arrested on the premises but after exiting the secure area.
