Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on Friday, May 9, 2025, outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, amid ongoing protests against the facility's operation. Accused of trespassing and ignoring federal warnings to leave, Baraka was detained for several hours before being released around 8 p.m. Upon his release, he addressed supporters, stating, "The reality is this: I didn't do anything wrong," but refrained from discussing legal specifics due to commitments made to his legal counsel and the presiding judge. (WSJ, New York Post)
Baraka, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has been a vocal opponent of the 1,000-bed detention center operated by GEO Group under a $1 billion, 15-year contract with ICE. He argues that the facility lacks proper city permits and violates safety codes, concerns that have led the city of Newark to file a lawsuit against GEO Group. The mayor's arrest occurred during an attempted oversight visit with Democratic Representatives Rob Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIver, who were denied entry by federal agents. (People.com, New York Post, thedailybeast.com)
The incident has intensified debates over immigration enforcement and federal authority, with Baraka emphasizing unity and denouncing efforts to sow division among communities. He stated, "All of us here, every last one of us, I don’t care what background you come from, what nationality, what language you speak, at some point we have to stop these people from causing division between us." more detail ...
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