NEWARK, N.J. (WPIX) – Homeland Security took Newark, New Jersey’s mayor into custody at an ICE facility on Friday afternoon, as reported by Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
“Newark’s Mayor, Ras Baraka, engaged in trespassing and disregarded several warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to leave the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon,” stated a message Habba posted on social media.
Baraka was inspecting Delaney Hall for oversight purposes after it had been transformed into an ICE facility. The mayor has been actively opposing the facility’s opening this week, arguing that the operators bypassed acquiring the necessary permits.
Witnesses said the arrest came after Baraka attempted to join a scheduled tour of the facility with three members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
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.
“The agents started intimidating and putting their hands on the congresswomen. There was yelling and pushing,” Martinez said. “Then the officers swarmed Baraka. They threw one of the organizers to the ground. They put Baraka handcuffs and put him in an unmarked car.”
Delany Hall was leased for $63 million annually from a private prison group known as The GEO Group. The city of Newark is suing for more inspections, claiming ICE has not indicated how many detainees it has in the building, which can only house 1,000 people.
Baraka said Monday that the issues at Delany Hall go beyond the lack of safety inspections and proper permits.
This is a developing story. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
