Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was released after several hours in custody following his arrest at a federal immigration detention center he has been actively protesting. Baraka faced charges of trespassing for allegedly ignoring warnings to vacate the Delaney Hall facility and was released around 8 p.m. on Friday. Upon stepping out of an SUV with emergency lights, he addressed supporters, stating, “The reality is this: I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Although Baraka refrained from discussing specifics of his case due to legal obligations, he expressed strong support for all individuals in his community, including immigrants. “All of us here, every last one of us, I don’t care what background you come from, what nationality, what language you speak,” he stated. “At some point, we have to stop these people from causing division between us.”
As a Democrat running for governor, Baraka has been vocal against the federal administration’s immigration policies. He has consistently pushed back against the 1,000-bed detention center, citing concerns over building permits.
Baraka’s wife accused the federal government of targeting her husband, claiming, “They didn’t arrest anyone else. They wanted to make an example out of the mayor,” adding that she was denied access to him during his detention.
The interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey indicated that Baraka had trespassed at the privately-operated facility. Video footage showed him arrested after he sought to join three members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation attempting to enter the detention center. Witnesses described a tense confrontation that led to Baraka being handcuffed and placed in an unmarked vehicle.
The Department of Homeland Security clarified that the lawmakers had not formally requested a tour of the facility, claiming protestors, including Congressional members, attempted to breach its gates. In contrast, a spokesperson for one of the Congress members stated they arrived unexpectedly to conduct an inspection, which they were permitted to do later.
Baraka’s arrest has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates and public officials, including the New Jersey Attorney General, who highlighted that no local law enforcement was involved. Lawmaker Rep. Menendez maintained that they have the legal right to conduct these inspections without prior notice, and cited attempts by ICE to obstruct their oversight.
The Delaney Hall facility, which previously functioned as a halfway house, was under a recently awarded 15-year contract with The Geo Group Inc., valued at $1 billion. This expansion forms part of broader plans to increase detention capacity nationwide.
In a statement, DHS affirmed that the facility operates under proper permits and has passed necessary inspections.
