Newark Mayor Arrested at Immigration Detention Center Amid Protests

The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, faced arrest on Friday during a protest against a newly opened federal immigration detention center, Delaney Hall. Baraka, along with three members of Congress, was at the facility to express opposition to its opening, which he claims violates local building permits.

Baraka was taken into custody after being accused of trespassing and failing to heed warnings to vacate the premises. He spent several hours in custody before being released later that evening. In a statement following his release, Baraka firmly denied the accusations, asserting that he had been invited to the site for a press conference and was unjustly arrested while on the public sidewalk.

According to Tricia McLaughlin, an official with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the investigation is still ongoing, and additional footage of the incident has been made available. McLaughlin criticized Baraka, who is also a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination in his party, for allegedly engaging in "political games."

Baraka has been a vocal opponent of the detention center, which has the capacity to house 1,000 detainees, and has publicly opposed its establishment. He contends that the center's opening should be halted due to unresolved issues regarding building permits.

In a public statement, Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, stated that Baraka had ignored legal boundaries by entering the facility. Video evidence indicates that the mayor was arrested after returning to the public area near the facility's gates.

Witnesses reported that tensions escalated during the confrontation. Baraka attempted to accompany Congress members Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman as they sought to enter the detention center. When federal officials obstructed their entry, a heated exchange ensued. Activist Viri Martinez described how the situation intensified, leading to Baraka's arrest, during which law enforcement officers forcibly detained him.

The DHS issued a statement claiming that the congressional delegation had not formally requested a tour of the facility, which the department could have accommodated. In contrast, Rep. Watson Coleman stated that the lawmakers visited without prior notice as part of their oversight responsibilities and refuted the DHS's characterization of their visit as a disruption.

Video footage shared with news outlets shows Baraka standing on the public side of the facility's gate, where he was informed by a federal agent that he was not authorized to enter. After leaving the secure area, he engaged with protesters until ICE agents surrounded him, leading to his arrest amidst cries from the crowd.

Rep. Menendez defended their actions, noting that members of Congress possess the legal right to inspect DHS facilities without advance notice. He expressed concern over perceived intimidation tactics employed by ICE during their visit.

In an interview, Baraka recounted the experience of being detained, including having his fingerprints taken and being photographed. He reaffirmed his commitment to uncovering the conditions within the detention center, stating, "We don't know what's going on in there." Baraka has a court date scheduled for the upcoming Thursday.

The Delaney Hall facility, a two-story structure adjacent to a former county prison, was recently awarded a 15-year operational contract by ICE to the private prison company Geo Group, valued at $1 billion. This contract is part of a broader initiative to expand detention capacity under the Trump administration, which aims to increase the overall number of available detention beds across the nation.

Geo Group has projected significant revenue from the Delaney Hall facility, indicating that it began processing detainees as of May 1. DHS maintains that the center complies with all necessary permits and inspections.