Protest leads to arrest of New Jersey mayor outside Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility

Revised Article:

Hellfire and drama erupted at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Newark, New Jersey, earlier this week, as the city's mayor, Ras J. Baraka, and three members of Congress found themselves in hot water during a protest.

It all went down on May 10th, as the mayor, along with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver, decided to pay a visit to the revamped ICE detention center. Allegedly, the facility, which can house up to 1,000 migrants daily, has been a contentious topic due to claims it lacks necessary permits and inspections, as per a local lawsuit [1].

However, the visit quickly turned sour when federal officials accused Baraka of pulling a stunt, ignoring repeated warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to vacate the premises. He was cuffed and carted off to an ICE facility in Newark, with his aides confirming the news [2].

ICE's crack team described the protest as nothing more than a publicity stunt. Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump tapped as New Jersey's interim U.S. attorney, announced Baraka's arrest via social media, alleging that the mayor was guilty of trespassing and blatantly disregarding the law [2].

The drama didn't end there. Rep. Menendez, who was at the federal detention facility when Baraka was taken into custody, claimed that ICE agents got physical with Watson Coleman and McIver during the chaos [1].

"ICE seems to believe they can act with impunity," Menendez ranted at a news conference. "They're playing fast and loose with the law, and that's evident as daylight."

Not one to mince words, Mayor Baraka had led a pre-dawn protest outside the detention facility, Delaney Hall, just days prior. This time around, he returned on Friday, intent on gaining access to the controversial facility, run by one of the biggest private prison companies in the U.S. [1]

The Trump administration had entered into a 15-year, billion-dollar contract with GEO Group this year, aiming to transform Delaney Hall into a mammoth detention center. Critics argue that the facility's location near major regional airports would supercharge the agency's efforts to escalate deportation flights in the Northeast [1].

In response to the incident, Watson Coleman posted on social media that the facility had opened without authorization from the city [1].

"We've heard chilling tales about what's been happening in other ICE prisons," she tweeted. "Now, we want to see their operation for ourselves."

Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, dismissed the episode as a "baloney political stunt" [2]. She added that Watson Coleman, Menendez, and "several protesters" had "burglarized" a guard shack, which she claimed put the safety of law enforcement agents and detainees at risk [2].

In an email statement, McLaughlin insisted that the facility had the required permits and listed five immigrants, whom she said were being detained at Delaney Hall and had been accused of heinous crimes such as murder and drug trafficking [2].

McIver chimed in, stating that the lawmakers were conducting a "oversight tour" of the facility, and Baraka had acted innocently before being cuffed [2].

"What we witnessed today is beyond disgraceful, and we should all be outraged," McIver fumed [2].

Menendez referred to Baraka's arrest as "an act of intimidation," claiming that over 20 "armed individuals" from ICE were called in to confront the lawmakers at the facility [1]. Watson Coleman described the events as "a gross misuse of power." [1]

This eyebrow-raising incident has sparked a wave of support for Baraka within the Democratic party and immigration activist circles. The incident has also boosted Baraka's profile as he campaigns for the gubernatorial seat [3].

References

[1] Evening Standard. (2025). Newark mayor and congress reps hauled away during protests at expanded ICE detention center. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/newark-mayor-and-congress-reps-hauled-away-during-protests-at-expanded-ice-detention-center-b1026467.html

[2] Associated Press. (2025). Newark Mayor Baraka arrested in protest at immigration detention facility. SF Gate. https://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/Newark-Mayor-Baraka-arrested-in-protest-at-16869753.php

[3] Huffington Post. (2025). Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka Arrested While Protesting Expansion of ICE Detention Center. Huffington Post. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/newark-mayor-ras-j-baraka-arrested-ice_n_6273036bc5b656fa4df539d2

The events at the ICE facility in Newark, a city known for its turbulent politics, have escalated to include allegations of crime, with Representative Menendez claiming ICE agents were aggressive during the protest.
General-news outlets have been abuzz with discussions about the ICE detention center in Newark, drawing attention to claims of crime and controversy surrounding the facility's operation and permits.
As the controversy over the expansion of the ICE detention center in Newark continues, many news channels have been covering crime-and-justice stories related to the alleged mistreatment of migrants and the political drama unfolding.

Protest leads to arrest of New Jersey mayor outside Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility