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| Newark mayor released after arrest at immigration facility protest, says, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong |
Newark mayor released after arrest at immigration facility protest, says, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested Friday at a federal immigration detention center where he has been protesting its opening this week and held in custody for several hours.
Baraka was released shortly after 8 p.m. and, after stepping out of an SUV with flashing emergency lights, told waiting supporters: “The reality is this: I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Baraka said he could not speak about his case, citing a promise he made to lawyers and the judge. But he voiced full-throated support for everyone living in his community, immigrants included.
“All of us here, every last one of us, I don’t care what background you come from, what nationality, what language you speak,” Baraka said, “at some point we have to stop these people from causing division between us.”
Baraka, a Democrat who is running to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, has embraced the fight with the Trump administration over illegal immigration.
He has aggressively pushed back against the construction and opening of the 1,000-bed detention center, arguing that it should not be allowed to open because of building permit issues.
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| Newark mayor released after arrest at immigration facility protest, says, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong |
Linda Baraka, the mayor’s wife, accused the federal government of targeting her husband.
“They didn’t arrest anyone else. They didn’t ask anyone else to leave. They wanted to make an example out of the mayor,” she said, adding that she had not been allowed to see him.
A crowd gathered to protest outside the building where Baraka was being held, with many chanting, “Let the mayor go!”
Alina Habba, interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, said on the social platform X that Baraka committed trespass and ignored warnings from Homeland Security personnel to leave Delaney Hall, a detention facility run by private prison operator Geo Group.
Habba said Baraka had “chosen to disregard the law” and added that he was taken into custody.
Video of the incident showed that Baraka was arrested after returning to the public side of the gate to the facility.
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Newark mayor released after arrest at immigration facility protest, says, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong |
Witnesses describe a ‘heated argument’
Witnesses said the arrest came after Baraka attempted to join three members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, in attempting to enter the facility.
When federal officials blocked his entry, a heated argument broke out, according to Viri Martinez, an activist with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. It continued even after Baraka returned to the public side of the gates.
“There was yelling and pushing,” Martinez said. “Then the officers swarmed Baraka. They threw one of the organizers to the ground. They put Baraka in handcuffs and put him in an unmarked car.”
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said the lawmakers had not asked for a tour of the facility. The department said further that as a bus carrying detainees was entering, “a group of protestors, including two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility.”
Homeland Security did not respond to questions about why only the mayor was arrested.
Watson Coleman spokesperson Ned Cooper said the lawmakers went to the facility early in the afternoon unannounced because their plan was to inspect it, not to take a scheduled tour.
“They arrived, explained to the guards and the officials at the facility that they were there to exercise their oversight authority,” he said, adding that they were allowed to enter and inspect the center sometime between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
DHS, in its statement issued after Baraka’s arrest, said Menendez, Watson Coleman and a number of protesters were currently “holed up in a guard shack” at the facility.
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| Newark mayor released after arrest at immigration facility protest, says, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong |
“Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour,” McLaughlin said.
Watson Coleman, who left and was at a Homeland Security Investigations holding facility where Baraka was said to have been taken, said the DHS statement inaccurately characterized the visit.
“Contrary to a press statement put out by DHS we did not ‘storm’ the detention center,” she wrote. “The author of that press release was so unfamiliar with the facts on the ground that they didn’t even correctly count the number of Representatives present. We were exercising our legal oversight function as we have done at the Elizabeth Detention Center without incident.”
Video shows the mayor standing on the public side of the gate
In video of the altercation shared with The Associated Press, a federal official in a jacket with the logo of the Homeland Security Investigations can be heard telling Baraka he could not join a tour of the facility because “you are not a Congress member.”
Baraka then left the secure area, rejoining protesters on the public side of the gate. Video showed him speaking through the gate to a man in a suit, who said: “They’re talking about coming back to arrest you.”
“I’m not on their property. They can’t come out on the street and arrest me,” Baraka replied.
Minutes later several ICE agents, some wearing face coverings, surrounded him and others on the public side. As protesters cried out, “Shame,” Baraka was dragged back through the security gate in handcuffs.
“The ICE personnel came out aggressively to arrest him and grab him,” said Julie Moreno, a New Jersey state captain of American Families United. “It didn’t make any sense why they chose that moment to grab him while he was outside the gates.”
An email and phone message left with the mayor’s communications office were not immediately answered Friday afternoon. Kabir Moss, a spokesperson for Baraka’s gubernatorial campaign, said, “We are actively monitoring and will provide more details as they become available.”
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| Newark mayor released after arrest at immigration facility protest, says, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong |
Several civil rights and immigration reform advocates as well as government officials condemned Baraka’s arrest. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, whose office is defending a state law barring private immigration detention facilities, criticized the arrest during a seemingly peaceful protest and said no state or local law enforcement agencies were involved.
Rep. Menendez said in a statement that as members of Congress, they have the legal right to carry out oversight at DHS facilities without prior notice and have done so twice already this year. But on Friday, “Throughout every step of this visit, ICE attempted to intimidate everyone involved and impede our ability to conduct oversight.”
The history of the facility
The two-story building next to a county prison formerly operated as a halfway house.
In February, ICE awarded a 15-year contract to The Geo Group Inc. to run the Newark detention center. Geo valued the contract at $1 billion, in an unusually long and large agreement for ICE.
The announcement was part of President Donald Trump’s plans to sharply increase detention beds nationwide from a budget of about 41,000 beds this year.
Baraka sued Geo soon after the deal was announced.
Geo touted the Delaney Hall contract during its earnings call with shareholders Wednesday, with CEO David Donahue saying it was expected to generate more than $60 million a year in revenue. He said the facility began the intake process May 1.
Hall said the activation of the facility and another in Michigan would increase total capacity under contract with ICE from around 20,000 beds to around 23,000.
DHS said in its statement that the facility has the proper permits and inspections have been cleared.
Ras Baraka |
| Newark mayor released after arrest at immigration facility protest, says, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong |
Ras Baraka is an American politician, educator, and poet who has served as the
Mayor of Newark, New Jersey since 2014. Born on April 9, 1970, he is the son of
influential poet and activist Amiri Baraka. A strong advocate for social justice,
education reform, and community empowerment, Ras Baraka has focused much of
his career on revitalizing Newark through progressive policies and grassroots
engagement. Before becoming mayor, he served on the Newark Municipal Council
and worked as a high school principal, emphasizing education as a tool for
transformation. As mayor, Baraka has tackled issues such as public safety,
affordable housing, and economic development, often taking bold stances to
support underserved communities. His leadership reflects a blend of activism and
pragmatic governance, rooted in his deep ties to Newark’s history and culture. Ras
Baraka continues to be a prominent voice in urban policy and progressive politics
in the United States.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has been recognized for his transformative leadership
since taking office in 2014. Under his guidance, Newark has achieved its lowest
crime rates in six decades, implemented community-based violence prevention
programs, and replaced over 23,000 lead service lines at no cost to residents .
Baraka has also championed affordable housing initiatives, economic development,
and youth employment programs, including expanding the Summer Youth
Employment Program to over 2,600 participants . His administration's efforts have
garnered national attention, positioning Newark as a model for urban revitalization
and progressive governance.
Habeas corpus
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| Newark mayor released after arrest at immigration facility protest, says, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong |
Habeas corpus is a fundamental legal principle that protects individual freedom by ensuring that no one
can be detained without just cause. It allows a person to challenge unlawful imprisonment by
demanding that authorities present valid legal reasons for their detention before a court. Rooted in
English common law and upheld by modern democratic systems, habeas corpus acts as a vital check on
government power, safeguarding civil liberties and upholding the rule of law.
Governor of New Jersey
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has led the state since 2018,
focusing on progressive reforms and economic equity. His administration has
prioritized youth mental health, maternal care, and affordable housing, including a
pilot program offering homeowners up to $100,000 to build accessory dwelling
units. Murphy's 2025 budget proposal emphasizes increased education funding
and public transit investment, while preparing for potential federal funding
challenges under the Trump administration. As Murphy approaches the end of his
term, the upcoming gubernatorial election features candidates like Newark Mayor
Ras Baraka, aiming to continue progressive leadership in New Jersey.
ICE
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency under the
Department of Homeland Security, is tasked with enforcing immigration laws and
combating cross-border crime. Established in 2003, ICE comprises two main
divisions: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), focusing on transnational
crimes, and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), responsible for
identifying, detaining, and deporting undocumented immigrants. Recent policy
shifts have expanded ICE's use of ankle monitors, aiming to track over 4.5 million
migrants, and introduced a voluntary self-deportation program offering $1,000
incentives. These measures, alongside increased detentions and deportations,
have sparked debates over civil liberties and due process. Critics argue that such
aggressive enforcement tactics may infringe upon individual rights and strain
community relations. As ICE continues to adapt its strategies, the balance between
national security and humanitarian considerations remains a contentious issue in
the broader immigration discourse.
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