Democrat Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, New Jersey was arrested this afternoon by federal agents after clashing with officers at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center.
Reportedly, Baraka tried to accompany a congressional delegation that was touring the newly-opened ICE facility.
He got into an argument with agents who wouldn’t let him in at the gate, eventually leading to his arrest when he ignored their warnings.
Watch the dramatic footage from his arrest here:
Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center after an argument with agents. Members of congress here for a scheduled visit, were shoved after trying to include Baraka in conversations after he gained entry through the gate.@news12nj #newark @News12NJ pic.twitter.com/6UDQWiIhQ7
— Amanda Lee (@amandaleetv) May 9, 2025
HAPPENING NOW: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was just taken into custody while protesting outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center pic.twitter.com/JMOaSsnLis
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) May 9, 2025
Fox 5 New York has more details on the events leading up to Baraka’s arrest:
Mayor Baraka had been protesting the opening of Delaney Hall throughout the week – Delaney Hall is an ICE detention center that opened May 1, according to the private prison company that operates the center, GEO Group.
Baraka’s office issued a statement the day the opening of the detainment center was announced: “Delaney Hall cannot lawfully open in Newark at this time.”
He’s argued that the 1,000-bed detention center should not be allowed to open because of building permit issues.
Baraka was attempting to join a scheduled tour of the facility being taken by three of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman. when he was taken into custody, The Associated Press reports. An argument arose when federal officials blocked his entry, prompting Baraka to attempt to enter through a side gate.
Witnesses say federal agents “threw organizers to the ground” before they handcuffed Baraka and took him into custody. He is being held at an ICE field office on Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark.
Supporters of the mayor have gathered outside the field office to protest his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba issued this statement on X following the arrest of Baraka:
The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this…
— US Attorney Habba (@USAttyHabba) May 9, 2025
Full text:
The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
No one is above the law, indeed.
It doesn’t matter who you are or which side of the aisle you are on: if you break the law, you pay the consequences.
— Dr GRACE 🙏🏼❤️🇺🇸 (@MediumGrace) May 9, 2025
Well done U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba, No one is above the law, not even the mayor or lawmakers.
Deal with them as prescribed by the law.
— Doge Observer (@DOGE_Observer) May 9, 2025
Listen to what Alina Habba told Fox News:
🚨U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba calls into Fox News following the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
She is not playing games:
“It’s very simple. We will not stand for anybody getting in the way of getting rid of criminals. He will be charged.”… pic.twitter.com/gspbABUZdu
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 9, 2025
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