Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested During Protest at Federal Immigration Detention Center
Newark, NJ – In a dramatic turn of events, Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on Friday while protesting at Delaney Hall, a newly opened federal immigration detention center in Newark. Baraka’s arrest stemmed from charges of trespass after he reportedly ignored warnings from Homeland Security officials to leave the facility.
According to Alina Habba, the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Baraka’s actions were a clear disregard for the law. "He has willingly chosen to disregard the law," Habba stated on social media platform X. The mayor is currently in a gubernatorial race to succeed term-limited Governor Phil Murphy and has positioned himself against the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies.
Baraka was protesting alongside members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, including Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, when tensions escalated. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with heated arguments followed by ICE agents surrounding Baraka and ultimately dragging him through security gates in handcuffs.
The Department of Homeland Security, in a statement, asserted that the congressional members had not formally requested a tour of the detention center, contradicting earlier claims by protesters. An official criticized the demonstrators’ actions as a "bizarre political stunt," noting it jeopardized the safety of both agents and detainees.
The detention center, operated by GEO Group, is part of a controversial expansion of immigration detention facilities under the Trump administration. Following a recent contract awarding GEO a 15-year agreement to manage the facility, Mayor Baraka has filed a lawsuit challenging its construction, citing alleged building permit issues.
The unfolding situation underscores rising tensions surrounding immigration policies as local leaders voice growing opposition. Baraka’s spokesperson mentioned they are monitoring the current developments closely.
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