McIver Gives NJ-10 ‘State Of District’: Congresswoman Bashes Trump, Touts Funding

It hasn’t been an easy first year in Congress for Rep. LaMonica McIver. But the New Jersey lawmaker says she refuses to sit idle in Washington D.C. – even with federal assault charges from the Trump administration hanging over her head.

Earlier this week, the Democrat recapped her first full year representing the state in the House of Representatives during her inaugural State of the District address at the Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology in Newark. Watch video footage here.

The 10^th district includes several towns and cities in Essex, Hudson and Union counties (see list below).

McIver, who was first elected to replace late U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, earned a victory to her first full term in November 2024. Since then, the congresswoman says she has notched achievements that include securing millions of dollars in federal funding for NJ-10, as well as other work involving “affordability” and “justice.”

There has also been controversy – namely still-pending federal charges filed under Alina Habba, the former U.S. attorney for New Jersey.

The clash leading to the charges took place in May 2025 outside Delaney Hall in Newark, the first federal immigration detention center to open under President Donald Trump’s second term. A trio of New Jersey Congress members – McIver, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rep. Rob Menendez Jr. – visited Delaney Hall, demanding entry to carry out their legally authorized oversight authority and inspect the prison firsthand.

Homeland Security officials accused the lawmakers of “storming the gate” at the prison, alleging that McIver slammed her forearm into the body of a law enforcement officer during the chaos and used her forearms to “forcibly strike” a second officer.

McIver has denied the allegations against her, alleging that federal agents needlessly ramped up the confrontation and created chaos. She has accusing Habba of being motivated politically to pursue the assault charges.

McIver was indicted in June. She pleaded not guilty to all charges, arguing that her behavior is protected under the Speech and Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which shields lawmakers for activities carried out as part of their legislative duties.

If convicted, she faces up to 17 years in prison.

• Related: NJ Congresswoman Disputes Charges From Feds After ICE Scuffle
• Related: Judge Denies McIver’s Bid To Get Federal Charges Dropped

McIver alluded to the ongoing legal saga during her State of the District speech on Monday night.

“Have things been hard?” she said. “Yes. Have bad things happened? Yes. But have we been sitting still? Absolutely not.”

“We got to work,” McIver continued. “We organized, legislated and delivered.”

During her speech, the congresswoman celebrated recent wins for the 10th District, including more than $10 million in community project funding for projects such as water and sewer upgrades, safer intersections, 911 system improvements, housing, community hubs, STEM education and job training.

According to McIver, she has also secured more than $90 million in federal grants, while also returning more than $190,000 directly to local residents by helping them with IRS refunds, disability benefits, Social Security back pay and more.

The congresswoman also highlighted bills that she has sponsored such as the ARC Act, the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act, the SNAP Benefits Fairness Act, and a bill to expand transit and safe outdoor spaces.

McIver has also continued to press for more investigation into the activities at Delaney Hall, joining a wave of criticism over the death of an immigration detainee last December.

“This administration is coming after me for doing what I was raised to do, and what voters – you all – elected me to do, which is to protect us all,” she told attendees at this week’s address.

“I did my job, which is oversight,” she continued. “I visited a detention facility and demanded answers because I saw the fear in our communities and the threat to our safety.”

“The president thinks intimidation will quiet us – but he doesn't know the Tenth [District],” McIver added.

New Jersey’s 10^th district 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.

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.