Newark, NJ – New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver is facing federal charges after allegedly storming an ICE detention facility in Newark, clashing with federal agents and police officers during an unannounced visit earlier this year.
According to court documents, McIver is accused of forcibly entering the Delaney Hall ICE Detention Center, confronting immigration officers, and refusing multiple orders to leave the restricted area.
Prosecutors say the confrontation escalated when McIver attempted to access a detainee unit and allegedly struck two responding officers, prompting her immediate detainment and later release pending trial.
Key Points
- Rep. LaMonica McIver faces charges stemming from an incident at Newark’s Delaney Hall ICE Detention Center.
- Federal prosecutors allege she assaulted officers during an unauthorized entry into the facility.
- Rep. Mikie Sherrill has issued a statement defending McIver, calling the charges politically motivated.
DOJ pursues case as defense calls charges political
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged McIver with obstruction, assault on a federal officer, and unauthorized entry into a secure facility. Prosecutors argue that McIver’s actions endangered personnel and disrupted federal operations.
McIver’s defense team contends that she was performing congressional oversight duties at the time and that the charges represent a politically motivated effort to silence scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices.
In a public statement, Rep. Mikie Sherrill called the case “an unprecedented attack against our democracy,” asserting that McIver “has the facts on her side.” Sherrill urged the court to dismiss what she described as “authoritarian actions” by the Trump-aligned Department of Justice.
Political tensions rise as case moves forward
The case has quickly become a flashpoint in New Jersey politics, with Republicans framing McIver’s actions as reckless and Democrats portraying the prosecution as retaliation for congressional oversight.
Oral arguments began this week, with McIver not entering a plea in open court but signaling through her attorney that she will fight the charges. The court is expected to rule later this fall on whether the case will proceed to trial.
McIver has continued to represent her Newark district while under indictment, maintaining her innocence and insisting that her visit to Delaney Hall was part of a legitimate inquiry into detainee conditions.
According to the allegations in the indictment, McIver forcibly impeded and interfered with federal officers as they attempted to arrest an individual outside the Delaney Hall Federal Immigration Facility in Newark, New Jersey on May 9, 2025. McIver and two other members of Congress were present at the facility that day to conduct a congressional oversight inspection.
The inspection coincided with an immigration protest rally. After the Congressional Delegation entered the secured area of the facility, the Mayor of Newark arrived and was given access to the secured area. A federal officer then informed the Mayor that he was not authorized to be in the facility’s secured area, and issued the Mayor multiple warnings that he would be arrested if he did not leave.
McIver and other members of the Congressional Delegation overheard this conversation and challenged the officer, protesting the Mayor’s removal. When officers moved in to arrest the Mayor, McIver and others surrounded the Mayor and prevented the officers from handcuffing him.
After the Mayor was escorted outside the secured area, law enforcement officers made a second attempt to arrest him. At this time, someone in the crowd yelled “circle the mayor.” McIver then faced the Mayor and placed her arms around him in an effort to prevent HSI from completing the arrest. During her continued attempts to thwart the arrest, McIver slammed her forearm into the body of one law enforcement officer and also reached out and tried to restrain that officer by forcibly grabbing him. McIver also used each of her forearms to forcibly strike a second officer.
If convicted, McIver faces a maximum penalty of 8 years in prison on the forcible impeding and interfering charge set forth in Count One of the indictment. She faces a maximum penalty of 8 years in prison on the forcible impeding and interfering charge set forth in Count Two. She also faces a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison for Count Three.
She fought off an attempt in Congress to censure her earlier this year.