The mayor of Newark, New Jersey’s largest city, has been arrested for allegedly trying to force his way into an immigration detention center. He has since been released. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on Friday (May 9) for “trespassing.” New Jersey’s acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said Mayor Ras Baraka ignored repeated warnings to leave the area. The center is Delaney Hall, run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Baraka was accompanied by three Democratic members of Congress, but they were not arrested. They say they came as part of an ‘observation’ to ensure that the center was not violating any building safety regulations.
Baraka told CNN he had not violated any law and was exercising his rights and responsibilities as an elected official. He has been charged with one count of trespassing. A statement from the Department of Homeland Security said a group of Democrats “broke down the gate and entered the detention center” while a bus was being loaded with illegal immigrants. The statement added, “This intrusion into the detention center by these members of Congress is more than a bizarre political drama. It threatens the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees.”
Baraka told CNN on Friday night (May 9) that he did not enter the 1,000-bed facility illegally. He was only there for a press conference, which members of Congress were allowed to attend. Videos of the incident show scenes of police clashing with protesters and how Baraka was led away in handcuffs.
New Jersey Democratic Governor Phil Murphy said he was “shocked” by Baraka’s arrest. Democratic Congressmen Rob Menendez Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman and La Monica McIver were also present at the event. The move comes at a time when federal agencies are ramping up their crackdown on illegal immigration, a key campaign promise of the Trump administration.