Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is standing firm in the face of allegations that he forcibly trespassed into Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in New Jersey’s largest city, on May 9.
Following his status conference on Thursday, Baraka addressed a crowd of supporters outside the federal courthouse, speaking with passion and conviction. He vowed to fight the accusations that he and several members of Congress “stormed” the facility last week.
“We did not violate any laws. We stood up for the Constitution of this country, the Constitution of the state of New Jersey. And we stood up for the local laws that were put together by the people of this city and by the people of this state,” said Mayor Baraka, as seen in a video shared by Frontlines. “We cannot arrest people simply because they disagree with us. We cannot target people because their political views are separate from ours. We cannot subjugate people, take their pictures, mugshots, and fingerprints because we believe they’re opposed to our positions,” Baraka added, according to the New Jersey Globe. “That, ladies and gentlemen, is authoritarianism.”
During Thursday morning’s meeting, attorneys for Baraka and federal prosecutors agreed on a tentative timeline for the case, aiming for a mid-July trial date, according to the New Jersey Globe. Outside the courthouse, the 55-year-old Democrat told supporters he believes he’s being targeted by the Trump administration due to his outspoken opposition to both the recently reopened immigration detention center in Newark and the administration’s hardline immigration policies.
Despite the charges, Baraka maintains he did not trespass.
One day before his hearing, the mayor released video footage of the incident in question. The clip shows Baraka speaking briefly with a security guard outside the fenced entrance of Delaney Hall. After the brief exchange, the guard opens the gate, allowing Baraka to enter the premises without resistance. This reportedly happened moments before Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents confronted and arrested him.
“This is the moment I was invited into Delaney Hall. Nobody was kicking or shoving like the coverage suggests. We were invited in,” Baraka—who is running in the June 10 primary for New Jersey governor—captioned his video post Thursday.
What happened on May 9?
Per NJ.com, the arrest followed several days of city officials, including Baraka, attempting to serve the GEO Group—the company that owns the immigration detention facility—with violation notices for allegedly refusing to cooperate with local code enforcement. Baraka first visited the facility early Friday morning around 7 a.m. with a city fire official to deliver the summonses. They accused the company— which is contracted by ICE—of operating the 1,000-bed facility in violation of city codes, including denying inspectors access and lacking an evacuation plan.
Later that day, Baraka returned to the site to join three members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation—Reps. Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman—who were conducting an oversight visit.
According to the report, ICE security allowed Baraka and the city’s attorney past the gate while the congressional members were already inside, as seen in the mayor’s video. However, footage released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not capture this initial interaction. Last Friday, DHS officials claimed that Baraka, protesters, and several members of Congress, “stormed” the facility in what it described as a “bizarre political stunt.”
Footage released by the department captured Baraka entering the gated area of Delaney Hall, separating the facility from a nearby parking lot where demonstrators had gathered. In the video, Baraka is seen speaking with security personnel who inform him that, unlike the congressional delegation, he is not authorized to enter the building and must leave the area or face arrest.
Baraka and an aide then step back outside the gate at 2:39 p.m., greeted by applause and supporters shouting, “Thank you, mayor.” Rep. Watson Coleman, still inside, tells him, “We will be your eyes and ears.”
Roughly four minutes later, body camera footage shows ICE agents rushing from the parking lot and arresting Baraka. The congressional representatives follow the agents as demonstrators and a city aide attempt to shield the mayor. One protester is seen falling to the ground after an ICE officer tries to pull her away.
Amid the ensuing chaos, Baraka was separated from the crowd, handcuffed, and taken by two officers back into the gated area. He was later charged with trespassing, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail.
According to the Associated Press, on Tuesday, Baraka briefly returned to the gates of Delaney Hall following Friday’s arrest. But it’s unclear why he returned.
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