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yesterday

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested at ICE Detention Facility

Baraka, a gubernatorial candidate, was detained for trespassing after defying Homeland Security warnings during protests over the newly reopened Delaney Hall center.

Ras Baraka was arrested on Friday
Image
Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark is seen walking past Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents standing near a gate to Delaney Hall, a newly converted immigrant detention center, during a protest near the facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey May 7, 2025. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on trespassing charges at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, after ignoring repeated warnings from Homeland Security officials.
  • Baraka joined three Democratic members of Congress—Reps. Menendez Jr., McIver, and Watson Coleman—who entered the facility unannounced, citing federal oversight authority.
  • The Department of Homeland Security criticized the entry as a political stunt, claiming it risked the safety of law enforcement and detainees, and denied allegations of improper permits for the facility.
  • Delaney Hall, operated by private contractor GEO Group, reopened on May 1 under a $1 billion federal contract, sparking legal challenges from Newark officials over alleged permit and inspection violations.
  • Baraka, a Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor, has been a vocal critic of the detention center’s reopening, aligning his protests with broader opposition to Trump administration immigration policies.