Newark, NJ – Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for trespassing during a protest at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The incident, which involved a confrontation with federal agents, has sparked significant controversy and drawn national attention due to Baraka’s prominence as a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and outspoken critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
According to Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Baraka “committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself” from the facility. Habba’s statement, posted on X, emphasized that “no one is above the law,” confirming Baraka’s arrest after he allegedly refused to leave the premises. A mugshot of the mayor was released by federal authorities, underscoring the gravity of the charges against him.
The protest occurred as Baraka joined three Democratic members of Congress—Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Rob Menendez—for what the lawmakers described as an oversight visit to investigate conditions at Delaney Hall, a recently reopened 1,000-bed immigration detention center operated by the GEO Group. Baraka, who has vocally opposed the facility’s opening due to alleged violations of local building permits, attempted to accompany the congressional delegation but was denied entry, as he is not a member of Congress.
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.
Alina Habba, US Attorney, New Jersey
Video footage of the incident, widely circulated on X, depicts a chaotic scene with pushing and shoving between federal agents, protesters, and lawmakers. Some reports claim members of Baraka’s delegation attacked officers while forcing their way into the federally managed facility. However, Representatives Watson Coleman and McIver disputed the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) assertion that protesters and lawmakers “stormed” the gate, with Watson Coleman stating, “We were exercising our legal oversight function as we have done at the Elizabeth Detention Center without incident.”
Baraka was arrested after returning to the public side of the gate, with video evidence showing ICE agents surrounding him and placing him in handcuffs as protesters shouted, “Shame!” He was charged with a misdemeanor count of trespassing and released without bond later that evening after a brief court appearance before Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa. Upon his release, Baraka addressed supporters, declaring, “The reality is this: I didn’t do anything wrong,” and urged the crowd to disperse peacefully.
The arrest has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic leaders. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy called it “unjust,” while Senator Cory Booker described it as “disturbing, unnecessary, and indicative of tactics that are undermining the safety and security of our communities.”
Linda Baraka, the mayor’s wife, accused the federal government of targeting her husband, stating, “They didn’t arrest anyone else. They wanted to make an example out of the mayor.”
The Delaney Hall facility has been a flashpoint in Newark, with Baraka leading efforts to block its operation through a lawsuit alleging the GEO Group failed to obtain proper permits.
The facility, which opened on May 1, 2025, is part of the Trump administration’s push for expanded immigration detention capacity in the Northeast. DHS has denied claims of improper permitting, asserting that the center houses “murderers, rapists, suspected terrorists, and gang members.”
Baraka’s arrest, occurring just weeks before the June 10 Democratic gubernatorial primary, has thrust him into the national spotlight. His campaign issued a statement framing the incident as part of his commitment to “protect New Jerseyans from [Trump’s] extreme agenda.” Meanwhile, critics, including New Jersey Republican Party Chairman Bob Hugin, labeled the protest a “stunt,” calling Baraka’s actions “unprofessional, reckless, and dangerous.”