On Friday, Alina Habba, the Interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, provided an update regarding the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was taken into custody for trespassing at a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility after he declined multiple requests to leave the site.
In an interview with Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum, Habba countered assertions made by three Democratic members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, who were present at the facility protesting, that federal immigration officials had treated them and Baraka poorly.
‘Congresspeople have the right to investigate, and we permitted their entry—first and foremost,’ Habba stated in response, accusing the Democratic lawmakers of politicizing the situation.
The mayor was present within the facility and was repeatedly warned and requested to vacate the premises. He declined to comply, resulting in his arrest inside the facility. Upon being informed of his arrest, he exited the building and was subsequently handcuffed. This is the sequence of events, as stated by Habba.
I express my gratitude to our team, whom I fully support—despite the lack of understanding from many regarding the Department of Justice’s role. They executed their responsibilities flawlessly,” she elaborated. “When examining the individual Twitter accounts, it is evident that they have been candidly indicating their intentions to proceed.
There is a rationale behind the congress members’ chaotic behavior and their usual vocalizations. However, I must clarify that the mayor was present inside and was informed that he would face arrest if he did not vacate the premises after multiple warnings to do so. He opted to remain, and subsequently, he was arrested upon exiting the facility,” Habba stated.
While I have a strong appreciation for this game, I must emphasize that the game itself and the strategies employed by the individuals remain intact and unaltered. I want to be unequivocal in my statement –
The event occurred in front of Delaney Hall, a detention center in Newark that accommodates undocumented immigrants with criminal records, as multiple House Democrats, including New Jersey Representatives Bonnie Watson-Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Rob Menendez, bypassed security and insisted on gaining entry to perform oversight of the facility.
According to a report by the Daily Wire, the protesters remained outside the gate until it opened for a vehicle transporting detainees, at which time they surged forward. However, bodycam footage from an ICE agent seems to depict at least one of the lawmakers — identified as McIver, wearing red — pushing an ICE agent and forcibly advancing past him during Baraka’s arrest.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin stated on X: “NEW: The Department of Homeland Security has shared with @FoxNews bodycam footage from the incident at the Delaney Hall detention center that occurred yesterday. According to them, the video evidently depicts @RepLaMonica (wearing red) pushing and elbowing her way past a DHS officer to access the premises, followed closely by @RepMenendez, and it also captures Congresswoman McIver yelling at the DHS agents.”
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security have suggested that certain Democrats may face criminal charges for their conduct.
