Dem Lawmakers Storm ICE Holding Facility In Defense Of MS-13

On May 9, 2025, a chaotic scene unfolded outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, when Mayor Ras Baraka, accompanied by Democratic Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Robert Menendez Jr., attempted to access the facility for what they described as a congressional oversight visit. The group aimed to inspect the recently reopened 1,000-bed detention center, operated by the private GEO Group under a $1 billion, 15-year ICE contract, amid concerns about its compliance with local building permits and safety regulations. Baraka, a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the facility’s opening, was denied entry, leading to a heated confrontation with federal agents. Videos captured a physical altercation involving shoving and shouting, culminating in Baraka’s arrest for trespassing after he was accused of ignoring multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to leave the premises.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a former Trump attorney, characterized the incident as a group of protesters, including two members of Congress, “storming” the facility’s gate as a bus of detainees arrived, labeling it a “bizarre political stunt” that endangered agents and detainees. However, the congressional delegation and Baraka disputed this narrative, asserting they were exercising their legal oversight authority, a right that allows unannounced inspections of federal facilities. Watson Coleman emphasized that they did not “storm” the center, noting prior oversight visits to other ICE facilities, like the Elizabeth Detention Center, occurred without incident. Witnesses reported that Baraka was arrested on public property after exiting the facility’s secure area, raising questions about the legality of his detention. The clash, marked by allegations of excessive force, including claims that agents shoved the lawmakers, sparked widespread condemnation from New Jersey Democrats, including Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Cory Booker, who called for Baraka’s immediate release.

Baraka was released after approximately five hours in custody, charged with misdemeanor trespassing, and greeted by over 200 supporters chanting for his freedom. Speaking to the crowd, he maintained his innocence, stating, “I didn’t do anything wrong,” and framed the incident as part of a broader fight against divisive immigration policies. The event intensified tensions between local officials and the Trump administration, with Newark’s lawsuit against GEO Group alleging unpermitted operations and blocked safety inspections adding fuel to the conflict. Critics, including civil rights advocates, decried the arrest as an attempt to intimidate elected officials exercising their duties. Meanwhile, DHS’s claim that a tour would have been facilitated if requested contrasted with the lawmakers’ assertion that their unannounced visit was within their oversight rights. The incident underscored deep divisions over immigration enforcement and local-federal jurisdiction, with Baraka’s arrest becoming a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over the Delaney Hall facility’s role in Trump’s mass deportation plans.