In Newark, New Jersey, a controversy has erupted surrounding an immigration detention facility, which has drawn the attention of three congressional Democrats and the Trump administration. This came to a head after the arrest of Newark’s mayor, Ras Baraka, who was taken into custody following an incident outside the Delaney Hall detention center on Friday. Baraka, who is a Democrat and currently running for governor, was charged with trespassing after reportedly ignoring warnings from federal agents to vacate the area.
The arrest sparked a brief yet intense encounter in the facility’s parking lot involving congressional members and federal officers, some of whom were masked. Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman, criticized Mayor Baraka for allegedly using the situation for political purposes. She noted that an investigation is underway, and further actions could follow.
The three involved congressional representatives — Reps. LaMonica McIver, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Robert Menendez Jr. — have asserted that federal agents exacerbated the situation by detaining the mayor. According to them, their visit to the facility was intended as a routine inspection due to congressional oversight responsibilities. “We managed to speak to detainees, evaluate the surroundings, and ascertain everything was in order,” Rep. Watson Coleman stated during a CNN interview that included her New Jersey colleagues. “We were there for nearly two hours before things got heated, but ICE kept redirecting us and insisting that we speak to another official.”
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security responded by saying that the lawmakers did not request a formal tour of Delaney Hall, although they would have accommodated such a request. Watson Coleman’s spokesperson, Ned Cooper, explained that the lawmakers arrived unannounced because they intended to inspect, not partake in a scheduled tour.
Regarding Baraka’s arrest, Alina Habba, acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, indicated on X, a social media platform, that the mayor was detained after allegedly trespassing. Reports suggest Baraka disregarded warnings to exit the facility premises, which he has disputed. Following his arrest and booking, Baraka was released on the same day and is slated for a court appearance on Thursday.
Video reviewed by the press shows a Homeland Security Investigations officer telling Baraka that he was not allowed access as he was not a member of Congress. The footage shows Baraka being taken into custody after he returned to the public side of the fence where demonstrators had gathered.
Baraka, who is campaigning to replace outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy, has opposed the opening of the detention center, citing incomplete building permit processes. The facility, located in an industrial area near Newark Bay, began operations on May 1.
Delaney Hall, now a point of contention, is located next to a county jail in Newark Bay and was formerly a halfway house. Earlier this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that it reached a substantial $1 billion, 15-year agreement with the GEO Group for the facility. This arrangement is notable for its scale and potential revenue, with GEO promoting it to investors as a significant financial opportunity.
The center’s capacity for 1,000 detainees aligns with former President Donald Trump’s initiative to expand the U.S. detention infrastructure, aiming to expand from 41,000 to 100,000 beds across New Jersey, Michigan, and other states. Mayor Baraka, alongside other Democrats, has opposed the facility’s opening, filing a lawsuit asserting that not all building protocols were accomplished. However, DHS maintains that the detention center has fulfilled all necessary permit and inspection requirements.