The mayor of Newark, N.J. was arrested at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility during a visit with members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation.
Mayor Ras Baraka was taken into custody Friday at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, which quietly started housing migrants detained by ICE this month.
“The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon,” U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba wrote on social media. “He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”
Baraka had his initial court appearance Friday evening and was charged with one count of trespassing. He was later released from custody.
Governor Murphy calls for Baraka’s immediate release
Gov. Phil Murphy said he was “outraged” by Baraka’s arrest.
“Over the past few months, Mayor Baraka, as well as advocates, faith leaders, and members of our Congressional delegation, have protested the opening of a private immigration detention center in the city of Newark. Four years ago, I was proud to sign a law banning private immigration detention centers in New Jersey. And just last week, my Administration was leading the fight to defend that law before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals,” Murphy said.
Baraka, a Democrat running for governor, joined some lawmakers and immigration advocates in arguing the 1,000-bed facility located about 15 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport is dangerous and illegal. For months, officials alleged the private prison company that signed a contract with ICE did not obtain proper permits and blocked fire, electrical and plumbing inspections.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security denies allegations the facility did not obtain proper permits and wasn’t inspected.
DHS says members of Congress “stormed the gate” at ICE facility
Delaney Hall currently detains “murderers, rapists, suspected terrorists, and gang members,” according to DHS.
“Today, as a bus of detainees was entering the security gate of Delaney Hall Detention Center, a group of protestors, including two members of US Congress, stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility. The members, Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman and multiple protestors are holed up in a guard shack, the first security check point,” DHS said about Friday’s incident.
“These members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and the detainees at risk. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation.”
Congressmembers say Baraka’s arrest was meant to intimidate
Menendez and Watson Coleman said Baraka’s arrest was about intimidation.
“When they arrested the mayor, he was in the public domain. He was not on their property. They made a decision to make an example of this. They huddled, they discussed and then they announced that they were going to arrest him,” Watson Coleman said.
“ICE brought to meet the mayor of Newark, over 20 armed individuals. Twenty armed individuals to confront the mayor of Newark along with three members of Congress. It was an act of intimidation. It was an act of intimidation not just to the mayor, not just to us, but to everyone watching,” Menendez said.
On Friday afternoon, Watson Coleman said on social media, “We’re at Delaney Hall, an ICE prison in Newark that opened without permission from the city & in violation of local ordinances. We’ve heard stories of what it’s like in other ICE prisons. We’re exercising our oversight authority to see for ourselves.”
Menendez and Rep. LaMonica McIver were tagged in the post.
The is a developing story. Please stay with CBS News New York for updates.
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