Newark Mayor Arrested During Protest at Immigration Detention Center
Newark, NJ – Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested during a protest on Friday at Delaney Hall, a newly opened immigration detention center in Newark, which he claims operates without the necessary permits. Joined by several lawmakers, including U.S. Representatives LaMonica McIver, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Robert Menendez Jr., Baraka attempted to enter the facility but was denied access by a federal official citing his non-Congress status.
Footage from the protest shows Baraka later addressing a man from outside the gate after exiting the secure area. Moments later, several ICE agents detained him as protesters shouted in disapproval. Following the arrest, Alina Habba, acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, alleged that Baraka "committed trespass" and stated he ignored multiple warnings to leave. “He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state,” she stated on social media.
Reactions to Baraka’s arrest were swift. Governor Phil Murphy expressed outrage, labeling the arrest as "unjust" and praising Baraka as an "exemplary public servant." Murphy highlighted that New Jersey once enacted a law against private immigration detention centers, though a federal court partially overturned it in 2023.
Baraka has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, having previously stated, “Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized." As he campaigns for the upcoming Democratic gubernatorial primary, the arrest has ignited further debate over the detention center, which critics argue facilitates mass deportation efforts. The GEO Group, which operates Delaney Hall, refutes Baraka’s claims, stating it is compliant with federal agreements.
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