Newark, New Jersey — Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, the largest city in New Jersey, was arrested on Friday (May 9) for allegedly attempting to forcibly enter an immigrant detention center operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was later released.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, Mayor Baraka was warned multiple times to leave the area but refused to comply. The facility in question is Delaney Hall, operated under ICE authority.
Baraka was accompanied by three Democratic members of Congress—Rob Menendez Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIver—who were not arrested. They stated their visit was part of an oversight mission to ensure the center was not violating building safety regulations.
Mayor Baraka told CNN that he did not break any laws and was simply fulfilling his duties as an elected official. He has been charged with trespassing.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed that the group forcefully entered the facility while a bus carrying undocumented immigrants was arriving. They described the incident as more than political theater, alleging that it endangered law enforcement officers and detainees.
Video footage shows clashes between protesters and police, as well as the moment Baraka was handcuffed and taken away.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy expressed deep concern over the mayor’s arrest.
The incident comes amid intensified federal crackdowns on undocumented immigration—a key issue in former President Trump’s campaign agenda.