McIver indicted for allegedly blocking ICE arrest during Newark facility inspection
NEWARK, N.J. — Congresswoman LaMonica McIver has been indicted on charges of forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers during an attempted arrest outside a Newark immigration facility.
According to the indictment, the incident occurred May 9 at the Delaney Hall Federal Immigration Facility while McIver and two other members of Congress were conducting a congressional oversight inspection. The inspection coincided with an immigration protest rally taking place nearby.
During the inspection, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka arrived and was allowed into a secured area. Federal officers informed the mayor that he was not authorized to be in the secured zone and warned him multiple times that he would be arrested if he did not leave. McIver and her colleagues overheard the exchange and protested the officers’ actions.
When law enforcement attempted to arrest Baraka, McIver and others surrounded him, preventing officers from placing him in handcuffs, the indictment alleges. After officers escorted the mayor out of the secured area, law enforcement made a second attempt to arrest him. At that moment, someone in the crowd reportedly shouted, “circle the mayor.”
Prosecutors allege physical interference
McIver allegedly placed her arms around the mayor to shield him and physically confronted the officers. Prosecutors claim she slammed her forearm into one officer, grabbed him to restrain him, and struck another officer with her forearms while resisting their efforts to complete the arrest.
“These proceedings are a brazen attempt at political intimidation,” McIver said in a statement. “This indictment is no more justified than the original charges, and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE caused and scare me out of doing the work I was elected to do.”
Paul J. Fishman, Partner at Arnold & Porter and McIver’s counsel, added, “The legal process will expose this prosecution for what it truly is — political retaliation against a dedicated public servant who refuses to shy away from her oversight responsibilities. We are eager to challenge these allegations head-on in court and fully expect the Congresswoman’s exoneration.”
“The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what
they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation. This indictment is no more justified than the original charges, and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE caused and scare me out of doing the work I was elected to do. But it won’t work—I will not be intimidated. The facts are on our side, I will be entering a plea of not guilty, I’m grateful for the support of my community, and I look forward to my day in court.” – New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver
Potential penalties and investigation details
If convicted, McIver faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison on each of the two counts of forcible impeding and interfering with federal officers, and one year in prison on a third count.
The investigation was led by special agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McCarren of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation and not evidence of guilt. McIver, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The high-profile indictment adds new tension to ongoing conflicts over immigration enforcement and congressional oversight.
