Accused Congresswoman Enters Plea After Clash Outside ICE Prison In New Jersey

NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver has pleaded not guilty to assault charges connected to a confrontation outside an ICE detention center in New Jersey, setting up a future legal battle with federal prosecutors.

On Wednesday, a coalition of advocacy groups rallied in Newark in support of the congresswoman, who was recently indicted in connection with an incident that took place outside Delaney Hall in Newark on May 9.

McIver faces a maximum of 17 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

The 1,000-bed facility at Delaney Hall is the first federal detention center to open under President Donald Trump’s second term. It is run by the GEO Group, one of the largest private prison companies in the world. The move allows ICE to expand its detention and deportation capacity in the Northeast region of the country.

On May 9, three Congress members – McIver, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rep. Rob Menendez Jr. – visited Delaney Hall, demanding entry to carry out their “oversight authority” and inspect the situation firsthand. Their visit coincided with a pro-immigration protest.

Congress members are legally authorized to enter federal immigration facilities – even without advance notice.

Homeland Security officials have accused the lawmakers of “storming the gate” and breaking into the detention facility.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has released the following allegations about what happened on May 9, accusing McIver of “forcibly impeding and interfering” with federal officers:

“After the congressional delegation entered the secured area of the facility, [Newark Mayor Ras Baraka] 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."

The U.S. Attorney's Office continued:

"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."

No charges have been filed against Watson Coleman and Menendez.

Federal authorities previously shared video footage from the scene and encouraged viewers to “check the tape.”

“Yes, check the tape,” insisted Baraka, who was eventually arrested and accused of trespassing – a charge that the U.S. Attorney’s Office eventually agreed to drop.

“The aggression was from the people in masks, hiding their identity,” Baraka said. “And the whole world has seen it.”

• Read More: NJ Mayor: Videos Show We Didn’t ‘Storm’ ICE Detention Center (WATCH)

Like the mayor, McIver has insisted that she was only trying to represent her constituents and learn more about the conditions at the prison. She recently served as city council president in Newark before her election to a U.S. House of Representatives seat in 2024.

McIver represents the state's 10th congressional district, which includes the following municipalities: Caldwell, East Orange, Essex Fells, Irvington, Montclair (part), Newark (part), Orange, Verona, West Orange in Essex County; Jersey City (part) in Hudson County; Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden (part), Roselle, Roselle Park, Union Township in Union County.

CONGRESSWOMAN ENTERS PLEA: 'NOT GUILTY'

On Wednesday, McIver attended an arraignment hearing in Newark, entering a not guilty plea with the court.

“Congresswoman McIver pleaded not guilty because she is not guilty,” reported her attorney, Paul Fishman of Arnold & Porter.

“On May 9, [McIver] was at Delaney Hall to carry out her responsibilities as member of Congress,” Fishman continued. “She was there to inspect an ICE detention facility and to see for herself whether the Trump administration is obeying the laws and constitution of the United States. ICE responded by creating a risky and dangerous situation, and now the Justice Department is doubling down by trying to punish the congresswoman for doing her job.”

“We are eager to challenge this case on multiple grounds and we are confident that the legal process will ultimately vindicate the congresswoman,” Fishman said.

U.S. Attorney Alina Habba – a Trump-appointee whom McIver has accused of politicizing the incident – announced the indictment on the evening of June 10, an hour before polls closed in the state’s 2025 primary election.

“As I have stated in the past, it is my constitutional obligation as the chief federal law enforcement officer for New Jersey to ensure that our federal partners are protected when executing their duties,” Habba said.

“While people are free to express their views for or against particular policies, they must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve,” she said.

“[The] decision by the grand jury is the next step in a process that my office will pursue to a just end,” Habba added.

McIver has called the allegations from the U.S. Attorney's Office “purely political.”

“Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall in my district,” she countered after charges were initially announced in May. “We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short. Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka.”

“The charges against me are purely political—they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” McIver continued. “This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right.”

The congresswoman saw support from U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a Newark resident.

“I am disappointed that the Department of Justice is wasting resources pursuing these unfounded charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver, needlessly straining our already overburdened federal judiciary,” Booker said.

“Rep. McIver was exercising her authority as a member of Congress to conduct constitutional oversight of a detention center that receives millions of taxpayer dollars,” Booker continued. “[Her] actions were so unremarkable and inoffensive that federal officials invited her into the facility later that same afternoon.”

“The Department of Justice must drop this case immediately,” Booker added.

Watson Coleman and Baraka have also disputed federal authorities’ version of events, sharing video footage that they say debunks federal authorities’ claims. Watch clips from Watson Coleman here and here, and see footage released by Baraka below.

Article continues underneath videos

DEMONSTRATORS RALLY FOR MCIVER

Demonstrators from several local advocacy groups rallied on Federal Square outside the federal courthouse where McIver was arraigned on Wednesday, demanding that prosecutors drop the charges.

Groups present at the rally included the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the People’s Organization for Progress, Newark Communities for Accountable Policing, and the ACLU of New Jersey.

“The arraignment of Congresswoman McIver is a shameful escalation of the Trump administration’s intimidation campaign against those who refuse to do its bidding,” ACLU-NJ executive director Amol Sinha charged.

Lawrence Hamm, chair of the People’s Organization for Progress, said that McIver is being “unjustly persecuted.”

“McIver is not the one at fault,” the former U.S. Senate candidate said. “The fault lies with the ICE agents who precipitated the incident. They escalated the event, overreacting with excessive force in a reckless, abusive and totally unprofessional manner.”

Other groups that issued statements in support of McIver this week include:

Jorge Torres, national organizing director for NDLON – “The Trump regime is lying about what happened on May 9 between federal lawmakers and masked immigration agents outside the Delaney Hall ICE prison in Newark. We condemn the criminal charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba’s accusations against Ms. McIver – saying she ‘assaulted’ law enforcement – are false.”

Louis Kimmel, executive director of New Labor – “This public display of violence by those in power is a crude attempt to silence and punish those community members who are speaking out about how ICE has been terrorizing our communities and workplaces.”

Ana Paola Pazmiño, executive director of Resistencia en Acción NJ – “The charges against Rep. McIver are a direct attack on those who defend immigrants in this country. Like many organizations who fight for migrant justice, Rep. McIver is standing up to a fascist government, and we are in full support of her duties to enter detention centers like Delaney Hall.”

Cristian Moreno-Rodriguez, executive director of El Pueblo Unido of Atlantic City – “Rep. McIver is being targeted for exposing the truth about a private detention system built on cruelty, and we call on Alina Habba to drop all charges immediately. We stand with the congresswoman and continue organizing our immigrant families to say enough—we will defend our communities and expose the real threat: a detention system that profits from dehumanizing our people.”

Itzel Hernandez, immigrant rights organizer for American Friends Service Committee – “Attempting to intimidate members of Congress for simply doing their jobs is a direct attack on our democracy and it will not work. Congressional oversight of detention facilities has long been a fundamental right. Any federal agency that operates above the law and seeks to evade congressional accountability and scrutiny poses a serious threat to the well-being of every American and our nation. Drop all charges against the congresswoman.”

Edgar Aquino-Huerta, community organizer with CATA – “This isn’t justice, it’s retaliation. They want to punish [Rep.] McIver for standing with the community and challenging ICE’s racist agenda.”

Rosa Santana, co-executive director of Envision Freedom Fund – “The recent retaliation of the federal government against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. LaMonica McIver is an escalation of a familiar pattern of intimidation and fear used to expand detention and disappear opposition. To see these tactics directed at leaders who are standing up for the rights and safety of their constituents is alarming but not surprising.”

Carlos Castañeda of Movimiento Cosecha – “Pressing charges against Congresswoman LaMonica Mclver is a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the real issue: Delaney Hall should not be operating. The re-opening of this facility is in violation of both municipal procedures and state law.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.