New Jersey Congresswoman charged with assaulting federal agents during Delaney Hall confrontation
NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver has been charged with two counts of assaulting federal officers after allegedly interfering with the arrest of a local mayor during a confrontation earlier this month at a Newark immigration detention facility, according to a federal criminal complaint unsealed Monday.
Federal prosecutors allege that on May 9, McIver, who represents New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, forcibly struck and obstructed two federal agents during a confrontation at Delaney Hall, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center used by the Department of Homeland Security.
The complaint states that McIver entered the secure area of Delaney Hall with two other members of Congress under the pretext of conducting a congressional oversight inspection, coinciding with a protest outside the facility. When Newark’s mayor arrived and was denied entry, agents attempted to remove him. After repeated warnings, an agent moved to arrest the mayor, at which point McIver and others surrounded him, allegedly forming a “human shield” to block the arrest.
Physical contact alleged in charges
According to the affidavit by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Robert Tansey, McIver slammed her forearm into one HSI agent (V-1) and forcibly grabbed him during the incident. She later used her forearms to strike a second federal officer (V-2), identified as an ICE Deportation Officer, while re-entering the secured area.
The charges against McIver include two violations of Title 18 U.S. Code Section 111(a)(1), covering assault, resistance, and interference with federal officers involving physical contact.
The confrontation was captured on video surveillance and body-worn cameras. Still frames from the footage were included as evidence in the court filing.
The complaint was signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams on Sunday. McIver has not yet publicly commented on the charges, and no arraignment date has been announced.