Chicago – May 09, 2025
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor, was arrested on Friday at a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Newark after refusing to leave the facility, according to Alina Habba, the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Habba stated that Baraka “committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings” from Homeland Security officials to vacate the ICE detention center, known as Delaney Hall, and emphasized that “no one is above the law” in the state.
Baraka was participating in a protest alongside three Democratic members of Congress, including Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Robert Menendez Jr., who were conducting oversight at the facility.
The Department of Homeland Security accused the demonstrators of unlawfully entering the detention center as a bus carrying detainees arrived, describing the incident as a dangerous political stunt that put law enforcement and detainees at risk. However, McIver defended Baraka, saying he “did nothing wrong” and had already left the facility before his arrest.
The detention center, which recently began housing migrants and has a capacity of up to 1,000 detainees, has been the focus of opposition from Baraka and Newark city officials. They argue that the private company operating the facility, GEO Group, failed to obtain proper permits and certificates of occupancy, violating city regulations. Baraka has led legal efforts and protests against the center’s opening, calling attention to concerns about transparency and safety.
Governor Phil Murphy expressed outrage over Baraka’s arrest and called for his immediate release, praising the mayor’s advocacy for vulnerable communities. Baraka is one of six major Democrats competing in the June 10 gubernatorial primary.
As of Friday evening, Baraka remained in custody, and it was unclear whether formal charges would be filed against him. The situation remains developing.
