► Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested during a protest outside Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility operating without local approval, for allegedly trespassing and refusing to leave the premises.
► The facility, run by GEO Group, is expected to hold up to 1,000 migrants daily and has faced legal challenges from Newark officials for lacking proper permits and a certificate of occupancy.
► Federal officials called the protest a “political stunt,” accusing lawmakers and protesters of endangering ICE agents and detainees by entering without authorization.
► The arrest has intensified local-federal tensions over immigration enforcement under President Trump, with Baraka and city leaders pushing to shut down the facility.
Baraka Pushes to Shut ICE Site Tied to Trump Deportation Agenda
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka was arrested Friday after joining a protest outside Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility operating in the city without proper approval, according to city officials. Baraka, 55, was taken into custody after allegedly refusing to leave the premises, prompting backlash and intensifying scrutiny over the center’s legality and purpose.
“He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state,” said Alina Habba, President Trump’s attorney and acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, who announced the arrest via social media. Habba claimed Baraka trespassed and ignored multiple warnings from federal agents.
Clash Over ICE Facility’s Legality and Local Authority
The protest centered on Delaney Hall, a privately owned detention center operated by GEO Group, which Newark city officials argue is unlawfully operating without proper permits or a certificate of occupancy. City representatives have been battling in federal court for weeks to shut the facility down, arguing it violates local laws and was opened without the city’s consent.
Baraka’s early-morning demonstration is the latest in a string of local resistance moves aimed at halting what he called part of “President Trump’s unjust deportation campaign.” The facility is expected to detain up to 1,000 migrants daily, raising alarms among immigration advocates and elected officials alike.
Congressional Leaders Join Protest, Denied Entry
Three Democratic members of Congress—Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rep. Robert Menendez Jr., and Rep. LaMonica McIver—also attempted to visit the facility Friday but were blocked from entering. In a post on X, Watson Coleman said they intended to inspect the conditions amid troubling reports from other ICE centers.
“We’re exercising our oversight authority to see for ourselves,” she wrote. McIver and Menendez stood alongside her in denouncing the facility’s surprise opening and lack of transparency.
The Department of Homeland Security responded sharply. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, called the protest a “bizarre political stunt”, accusing lawmakers of “illegal breaking and entering” and claiming their actions endangered both federal agents and detainees.
“Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities,” McLaughlin posted, asserting they could’ve toured the facility legally if they had requested access.
Federal-State Tensions Escalate Over Immigration Enforcement
The incident is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing battle between local leaders and the federal government over immigration enforcement tactics under Trump’s leadership. Baraka’s arrest is likely to fuel further protests and deepen calls for more local control over federal actions in urban areas.
As of now, Mayor Baraka remains in federal custody, and city officials continue to push for the shutdown of Delaney Hall, vowing to fight what they see as federal overreach in their community.
