Newark Mayor Ras Baraka arrested during protest outside ICE detention center.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on Friday outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center amid ongoing protests against the facility. He was reportedly released a few hours later, shortly after 8 PM. The incident is a significant development in the mayor’s long-standing opposition to immigration policies and practices in New Jersey.
Baraka’s arrest followed a confrontation outside the center when he attempted to join a tour alongside three congressional delegates from New Jersey. As reported by various media outlets, tensions escalated when officers blocked the mayor’s entry to the facility, leading to a physical engagement that culminated in Baraka being handcuffed and taken away in an unmarked vehicle. The interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba, asserted that Baraka committed trespass and ignored warnings from Homeland Security Investigations, which ultimately led to his arrest.
Activists, including members of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, were present during the event, indicating the growing solidarity among local leaders against federal immigration enforcement practices. Witnesses to the altercation described how officers quickly surrounded the mayor as the situation intensified.
In a response to the incident, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused a group of protesters, which included two U.S. representatives, of attempting to forcefully enter the detention center. The elected officials involved were identified as Representatives Robert Menendez, Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman. Representative LaMonica McIver also participated in what was described as an oversight visit. McIver maintained that Baraka’s actions did not warrant the arrest and suggested that federal officers were looking to make an example of him.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy expressed his outrage regarding the arrest, calling for Baraka’s immediate release. Furthermore, the mayor’s wife, Linda Baraka, revealed her concerns about the motives behind her husband’s arrest and his treatment by law enforcement while in custody.
In the context of his political ambitions, Baraka is currently campaigning to become the next governor of New Jersey in the upcoming November elections. His opposition to Delaney Hall has been vocal and consistent, emphasizing his belief that safety protocols were compromised in its establishment. He has previously initiated legal action against the facility’s operators, the Geo Group, highlighting concerns regarding improper construction practices without appropriate permits.
Despite the controversies surrounding the facility, Geo Group has projected robust financial outcomes, estimating over million in annual revenue from its operations with ICE. As the debate surrounding immigration policy continues to evolve, Baraka’s arrest serves as a flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation regarding immigration enforcement, local governance, and the role of political leaders in advocating for changes in policy.
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