On May 9, 2025, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested during a protest outside the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. The facility, operated by the private prison company GEO Group under a $1 billion, 15-year contract with ICE, has been a point of contention due to alleged permit violations and concerns over immigration detention policies.
Mayor Baraka, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, joined U.S. Representatives Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman in what they described as an oversight visit to the facility. According to reports, Baraka attempted to enter the facility but was stopped by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. Although he retreated to the public side of the gate upon request, ICE agents proceeded to handcuff and remove him, leading to his arrest on trespassing charges. Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba stated that Baraka ignored multiple warnings from HSI agents to leave the premises.
The incident has sparked significant backlash from civil rights groups and officials, including New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, who condemned the arrest as unjust. Governor Phil Murphy also criticized the arrest, calling it disturbing and politically motivated. Video evidence and eyewitness accounts suggest that Baraka complied with orders to move to the public side, contradicting DHS claims that he stormed the facility.
Delaney Hall's reopening has been met with resistance, particularly in light of New Jersey's law banning private immigration detention facilities. The city of Newark has filed a lawsuit against GEO Group, challenging the facility's operations and alleging violations of local ordinances. Mayor Baraka has vowed to continue opposing the facility, asserting the city's right to protect residents' safety and constitutional rights.
This incident underscores the escalating tensions surrounding federal immigration policies and local resistance to the expansion of detention centers, especially in sanctuary cities like Newark.
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