Overview

• Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, arrested last week for alleged trespassing at Delaney Hall ICE facility, returned to the site Tuesday but was blocked by heightened security measures, including barricades and armed officers.
• Baraka faces a Class C misdemeanor charge with a potential penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 15.
• House Republicans introduced a resolution to strip committee assignments from three New Jersey Democratic lawmakers who accompanied Baraka, accusing them of endangering law enforcement and detainees.
• Baraka’s arrest has drawn national attention, potentially boosting his profile in New Jersey’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, where he has positioned himself as a progressive challenger to Trump administration policies.
• The Delaney Hall facility, operated by private contractor GEO Group under a 15-year ICE contract, has become a flashpoint in debates over immigration enforcement, private prisons, and federal versus local authority.