Feds Charge Democratic NJ Congresswoman With Assault After ICE Prison Protest

NEWARK, NJ — The U.S. Justice Department has filed an assault charge against a Democratic congresswoman in connection with a scuffle that took place outside an ICE detention facility in Newark.

On Monday, Alina Habba, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, accused U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) of “assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement” during a confrontation at Delaney Hall earlier this month.

The 1,000-bed facility 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.

ICE started housing detainees at Delaney Hall on May 1. Pro-immigration activists have been holding a series of protests outside the facility over the past two weeks.

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.

Homeland Security officials accused the lawmakers of “storming the gate” and breaking into the detention facility, sharing video footage from the scene and encouraging viewers to “check the tape.”

“Yes, check the tape,” insisted Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was also at the scene. He was eventually arrested and charged with trespassing – a charge that Habba has 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 I Didn’t ‘Storm’ ICE Detention Center (WATCH)

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.

ASSAULT CHARGE

Habba – who has hinted at pending charges in the wake of the incident – announced that McIver has officially been charged with assault on Monday. She wrote:

“Congressional oversight is an important constitutional function and one that I fully support. However, that is not at issue in this case. Rep. LaMonica McIver assaulted, impeded and interfered with law enforcement in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1 1 1 (a)(1). That conduct cannot be overlooked by the chief federal law enforcement official in the state of New Jersey, and it is my Constitutional obligation to ensure that our federal law enforcement is protected when executing their duties. I have persistently made efforts to address these issues without bringing criminal charges and have given Rep. McIver every opportunity to come to a resolution, but she has unfortunately declined. No one is above the law — politicians or otherwise. It is the job of this office to uphold justice impartially, regardless of who you are. Now we will let the justice system work.”

No charges have been filed against Watson Coleman and Menendez as of Monday.

McIver called the allegations from the Trump-appointed federal prosecutor “purely political.”

“Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall in my district,” she countered. “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.”

“I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court,” the congresswoman added.

Watson Coleman has also disputed federal authorities’ version of events.

Here’s what Watson Coleman had to say about the incident:

“Since DHS has been lying about this, allow me to correct the record. This scuffle, during which an ICE agent physically shoved me, occurred after we had entered the Delaney Hall premises. We entered the facility, came back out to speak to the mayor, and then ICE agents began shoving us. This is not how we entered the facility. We were escorted in by guards, because we have lawful oversight authority to be there.”

“Here’s the moment my colleagues and I were let into Delaney Hall,” Watson Coleman wrote, sharing a video clip of her own.

The congresswoman released another video clip, saying it shows the moment when Baraka “calmly” leaves the premises after being asked.

“The scuffle at the gate happened after when we came back out and ICE moved to arrest the mayor on public property,” Watson Coleman continued. “How did we ‘break in’ when we were already allowed inside?”

“The idea we ‘stormed’ a heavily guarded federal detention center is absurd – just more lies from the most dishonest administration in history,” she charged.

Mayor Baraka has shared additional video footage taken at the scene that he says debunks prosecutors’ version of events. The footage includes McIver (seen in the red jacket). View it below.

• See Related: NJ Congresswoman Explains Controversial Comment On Trump, Musk
• See Related: Rep. McIver Blasts Potential Cuts To Medicaid At Town Hall In NJ-10

Several Democratic elected officials rallied behind McIver after Monday's charges were announced. They included:

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker - "These charges are clearly unfounded. Representative McIver was exercising her legally protected authority as a member of Congress to conduct oversight of a detention center that receives millions of taxpayer dollars. Federal officials unnecessarily escalated what should have been a run-of-the-mill inspection of the facility. In fact, Representative McIver’s actions were so unremarkable that she was invited back inside to finish her tour that day, after these events took place. Pursuing this case against Representative McIver will divert considerable resources away from serious matters of public safety. The Department of Justice should drop these charges immediately."

U.S. Sen. Andy Kim - "The decision by the US Attorney to charge Congresswoman McIver has nothing to do with enforcing the law, and everything to do with this administration’s attempt to intimidate those who dare speak against them or expose the truth. The Congresswoman was in the process of conducting oversight, which is her right and responsibility. It’s important that we stand up to protect that right, and I’m proud to join my colleagues to stand beside her to ensure that the people of our state can never be silenced."

U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez Jr. - "Arresting a Member of Congress for doing their job will go down as one of the darkest days of the Trump Administration yet. Having witnessed everything that occurred that day firsthand, I strongly believe that the Administration should be apologizing to Representative McIver, not arresting her on unprecedented, politicized charges. Every American should see this for what it is: the weaponization of the justice system in a shameful attempt to bully and intimidate those of us who stand in the way of the President's agenda. If the Administration can do this to an elected official, they can do it to any American. This is a clear attempt to silence not just Members of Congress but all Americans. And this is our response to the Administration: we will not back down, and we will not be intimidated. We were sent here to fight for the people we represent, and that's precisely what we will continue to do."

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill - "This is another brazen and unlawful abuse of power by Trump loyalist, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba. The Trump Administration had no case against Mayor Baraka, so they are now taking aim at Rep. McIver, a move straight out of Trump’s authoritarian playbook. It is a sham. I’ll continue to stand with Rep. McIver as we hold this administration accountable for its blatant abuse of power and carry out oversight responsibilities. Donald Trump’s contempt for the Constitution is once again on full display – and make no mistake, weaponizing the justice system to target political opponents threatens the very foundation of our republic. This is a calculated assault from the Trump Administration, and the justice system must soundly reject these authoritarian actions."

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer - "This couldn’t be more clear: Members of Congress have a Constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight over federal agencies. The Trump Administration is blatantly interfering with that authority to further its extreme political agenda. The judicial system must reject any attempt to weaponize justice against political opponents — including my colleague, Congresswoman McIver."

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