Ras Baraka Detained After Protest at ICE Facility \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested while protesting the opening of a controversial ICE detention facility run by GEO Group. Federal officials allege Baraka trespassed, while video footage shows him on public grounds. The arrest has sparked outrage among activists and political leaders across New Jersey.
Quick Looks
- Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested Friday at the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility run by GEO Group.
- Federal prosecutors allege trespassing, while video shows Baraka on the public side of a security gate at the time.
- The arrest follows Baraka’s long-standing opposition to the 1,000-bed facility, which he claims violates building codes.
- Alina Habba, interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, said Baraka “disregarded the law” and ignored DHS warnings.
- DHS claims Baraka and others “stormed” the gate; video and witnesses dispute that narrative.
- Members of Congress present during the event, including Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, deny wrongdoing.
- Video shows Baraka being arrested outside the gate, after DHS agents came through and forcibly detained him.
- Baraka is a Democratic gubernatorial candidate seeking to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy in 2025.
- His wife, Linda Baraka, accused DHS of targeting him for political reasons.
- New Jersey officials, including Attorney General Matthew Platkin, condemned the arrest and affirmed state opposition to private detention centers.
Deep Look
Tensions between federal immigration authorities and local leadership in New Jersey escalated dramatically on Friday when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested while protesting the opening of a controversial ICE detention center operated by GEO Group.
Baraka, who is also a Democratic candidate for governor, has fiercely opposed the 1,000-bed Delaney Hall facility, claiming it opened without proper permits and represents a step backward for immigrant rights in New Jersey. His arrest — captured partially on video — is raising serious questions about federal overreach, protest rights, and political targeting.
A Protest Turns Confrontational
The confrontation unfolded as Baraka attempted to accompany three New Jersey lawmakers — Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman — into the newly opened detention center. According to activists and video evidence, federal agents blocked Baraka’s entry, telling him he wasn’t a member of Congress and therefore could not participate.
Baraka then returned to the public side of the gate, where video shows him calmly speaking with a man in a suit. Moments later, ICE agents emerged from the facility, surrounded him, and forcibly dragged him back inside the gates in handcuffs — despite being on public property at the time.
“There was yelling and pushing,” said Viri Martinez of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “They threw one of the organizers to the ground and put the mayor in an unmarked car.”
DHS and Federal Prosecutors Offer Contradicting Narrative
Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba posted on X that Baraka had “chosen to disregard the law” and was arrested for trespassing. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security claimed in a statement that a group of protestors, including members of Congress, “stormed the gate.”
But those who were there — and video footage — offer a sharply different account. Rep. Watson Coleman said DHS “grossly mischaracterized” the visit, adding that the lawmakers were exercising their legal oversight authority, not breaking into a federal site. Her office also noted that DHS miscounted the number of representatives present in its press release.
“The statement from DHS is not only inaccurate, it’s inflammatory,” Watson Coleman said. “We did not storm the detention center. We spoke with guards, explained our purpose, and entered peacefully.”
Outrage and Support
The arrest quickly drew condemnation from elected officials, activists, and legal experts. Linda Baraka, the mayor’s wife, said DHS deliberately targeted her husband. “They didn’t ask anyone else to leave. They wanted to make an example out of the mayor.”
A growing crowd of protesters outside the facility chanted, “Let the mayor go!” while several immigration and civil rights groups issued statements accusing DHS of overreach and misuse of federal authority.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin — whose office is defending a state law that bans private immigration detention centers — criticized DHS for arresting Baraka during what appeared to be a peaceful protest.
“No state or local law enforcement were involved,” Platkin confirmed, emphasizing the incident was entirely federal.
The Facility at the Center of Controversy
Delaney Hall, located next to a county prison, previously operated as a halfway house. In February, ICE awarded a $1 billion, 15-year contract to GEO Group Inc. to reopen it as an immigration detention facility. The deal was part of a larger strategy, aligned with Donald Trump’s immigration expansion agenda, to increase ICE’s bed capacity from 41,000 to over 43,000.
Baraka sued to stop the project shortly after the contract was awarded. The mayor argues that the facility’s opening violates local zoning and permit laws and undermines state opposition to private immigration detention.
During GEO’s latest earnings call, CEO David Donahue said the Newark facility began intake operations on May 1, projecting over $60 million per year in revenue.
In its statement, DHS insisted the facility had passed all required inspections and permitting processes, though local officials and Baraka’s legal team contest those claims.
What Happens Next?
As of Friday evening, Baraka remained in federal custody. His gubernatorial campaign spokesperson, Kabir Moss, said the team was “actively monitoring” the situation and expected to provide more details soon.
With the 2025 governor’s race already heating up, the mayor’s arrest could become a defining flashpoint — not only about immigration policy but about the right to protest, federal power, and state sovereignty.
Ras Baraka Detained Ras Baraka Detained
You must Register or Login to post a comment.