U.S. ATTORNEY ALINA HABBA
“The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”
GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY
“I am outraged by the unjust arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka earlier this afternoon outside of Delaney Hall in Newark.
“Over the past few months, Mayor Baraka, as well as advocates, faith leaders, and members of our Congressional delegation, have protested the opening of a private immigration detention center in the city of Newark. Four years ago, I was proud to sign a law banning private immigration detention centers in New Jersey. And just last week, my Administration was leading the fight to defend that law before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Mayor Baraka is an exemplary public servant who has always stood up for our most vulnerable neighbors. I am calling for his immediate release by federal law enforcement.”
U.S. SENATOR ANDY KIM
“Mayor Baraka’s arrest was shocking — and he should be released immediately. I called ICE leadership who relayed that the mayor was arrested for trespassing. However, video clearly shows the mayor outside the gates of Delaney Hall facility when he was arrested. I’ve reached out to DHS Secretary directly and am in touch with the members of Congress who conducted the oversight inspection. Developments are unfolding fast and I will work to keep everyone updated.”
ATTORNEY MATT PLATKIN
“Arresting public officials for peacefully protesting violates the most basic principles of our democracy. The arrest of Mayor Baraka earlier this afternoon outside Delaney Hall in Newark is deeply troubling. People peacefully exercising their right to free speech and assembly should never be targeted for opposing the government’s policies. To our knowledge, no state or local law enforcement were involved in this arrest.
“Like those gathered today to protest outside of Delaney Hall, my office has remained steadfast in our defense of the state law prohibiting private immigration detention centers in our communities. We defended that law before a federal appeals court last week, and we will continue to stand up for the civil rights of our residents.”
CONGRESSWOMAN MIKIE SHERRILL
“The scene outside of Delaney Hall today and the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is an absolute outrage. He needs to be released immediately.
“The Trump administration’s decision to reopen Delaney Hall, a private, for-profit prison to detain immigrants won’t make New Jerseyans safer, and it won’t fix our broken immigration system.”
JERSEY CITY MAYOR STEVE FULOP
“This is wrong and ICE actions should be condemned in the strongest sense. Regardless of your views on ICE, the law is the law—and any facility operating in a New Jersey municipality must follow it. If Delaney Hall doesn’t have proper local authorization, Mayor Baraka had every reason to be there, and every right to demand accountability. Instead, ICE arrested him. Whether it’s disobeying the Supreme Court, flirting with a third term, or undermining due process, we’re watching lines get crossed in real time. This is a dangerous precedent—and it demands condemnation in the strongest possible terms.”
CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOTTHEIMER
“Newark Mayor Baraka should be released immediately. It’s absurd that he’s being held. As I’ve said before, the Trump Administration should not be using Delaney Hall, a crowded private prison, as an immigrant jail. It’s an environment ripe with mistreatment and abuse.”
REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE BILL SPADEA
Thank you to U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for ensuring that the rule of law can continue. Ras Baraka should be embarrassed by his behavior. His antics put the safety of our members of law enforcement at risk and jeopardized the ability for them to do their job. All of the other candidates should join me in condemning Ras Baraka and stand in solidarity with ICE, Tom Homan, Alina Habba and everyone working to enforce the law and end illegal immigration in New Jersey.”
REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE JACK CIATTARELLI
In Newark, the airport is in the midst of an unprecedented & dangerous meltdown, the public schools are failing students & families, and there is crime in the streets every day. And yet its Mayor and leading Democrat candidate for Governor, Ras Baraka is busy shilling for illegal Immigrants at an ICE detention center with a cheap publicity stunt. Shameful.”
FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY
“I’ve always known Ras Baraka to stand up and fight for what he believes in. He absolutely did that today. Donald Trump’s disregard for the rule of law was on full display this afternoon — and every New Jerseyan should be outraged that federal agents would ever put their hands on Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, or Rob Menendez. The Mayor has every right to enforce the laws of his city and should be released immediately.”
FORMER MONTCLAIR MAYOR SEAN SPILLER
“What we saw today at Delaney hall goes beyond politics. It is about right and wrong. And that was wrong. To see Mayor Baraka taken out in cuffs because he wants to see with his own eyes – as Mayor of Newark – the conditions in Delay Hall – that was wrong. As I have said many times over the past months, the Trump administration isn’t coming for someone else, they are coming for all of us. As an immigrant I can see myself in the people being detained and I would want to know people were looking out for me.
“They can try to pick us off one at a time, but we won’t let them. I’ll be at Delaney Hall tomorrow morning, and I call on all the other candidates in this race to join me in standing together for justice.”
CONGRESSWOMAN LAMONICA MCIVER
“If they can treat three members of Congress like that, just imagine how they treat people on the street every day, both people who are undocumented and citizens.”
CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN
“At around 1pm today, my colleagues (LaMonica McIver, Rob Menendez) and I arrived at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark to exercise our oversight authority as Members of Congress. Contrary to a press statement put out by DHS we did not “storm” the detention center. The author of that press release was so unfamiliar with the facts on the ground that they didn’t even correctly count the number of Representatives present. We were exercising our legal oversight function as we have done at the Elizabeth Detention Center without incident. Reopening Delaney Hall won’t make us safer and it won’t create an immigration system that is fair and secure for all families. Private Prison companies like GEO Group create a perverse incentive to increase incarceration to increase corporate profits. It’s no accident that GEO Group was the first corporation to max out donations to Trump’s Super PAC, to the tune of $500,000 dollars. And they’re being rewarded with huge contracts to imprison immigrants like we’re seeing here at Delaney. New Jerseyans don’t want more private prisons just to increase shareholder income at the expense of taxpayers. They want a fair and secure immigration system that reflects our values and respects our Constitution.”
NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE CHAIRMAN BOB HUGIN
“Mayor Ras Baraka’s arrest after trespassing at a federal ICE facility and ignoring repeated warnings from Homeland Security is unprofessional, reckless, and dangerous. He’s not just a mayor — he’s running for Governor, and this stunt shows exactly what kind of leader he’d be: one who puts political theater ahead of public safety and the rule of law. New Jersey deserves better.”
CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE
“ICE’s treatment of NJ elected officials today at Delaney Hall is outrageous. These are Members of Congress and a Mayor using their mandate to demand transparency while the Trump Administration detains immigrants in secret without oversight or accountability. This is the exact recipe for abuse that we saw happen in the first Trump Administration. We have a duty to ensure every person held in U.S. custody is treated humanely and afforded due process. That’s not just the law, it’s who we claim to be as a nation.”
HOBOKEN MAYOR RAVI BHALLA
“Mayor Baraka’s arrest for peacefully protesting the Trump Administration’s cruel, unconstitutional and un-American actions on immigration in front of a facility in in his own city is outrageous. I call on ICE to release him immediately.”
CONGRESSWOMAN NELLIE POU
“The images of Mayor Baraka being handcuffed and detained by federal agents in his own city are an outrage. Trespassing charges against a mayor visiting a government-contracted facility in his city are preposterous. Any charges should be dismissed and he should be released now.”
MONMOUTH COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CHAIRWOMAN DYESE DAVIS
“The treatment of Members of Congress and the arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka are not just outrageous—they’re a blatant attack on the rights of every New Jerseyan who dares to speak truth to power. What began as a peaceful protest against the shady reopening of a private for-profit detention center—one that has defied local law and public outcry—turned into a slap in the face to a community that demands accountability. A mayor of a city has every right to inspect the treatment of detainees in their city, especially when constituents have reported poor and inhumane conditions.
“This is what authoritarianism looks like—when those in power choose to arrest a mayor rather than answer to the people. It is both an insult to our values and a dangerous precedent. We won’t stand for it. New Jersey must be a place where democracy is defended, not punished.”
STATE SENATOR GORDON JOHNSON AND ASSEMBLYWOMEN SHAIMA HAIDER AND ELLEN PARK
“We stand by Mayor Baraka and the members of our congressional delegation who were well within their right to demand answers on the opening of Delaney Hall. The Trump Administration’s actions today underscored their lack of respect for our constitution and represented a marked increase in hostility towards those expressing opposition to their cruel and unjust policies. We will not be silenced, we must continue to advocate for our immigrant neighbors. We are calling on HSI to allow for the proper inspections to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those being held at Delaney Hall.”
CONGRESSMAN ROBERT J. MENENDEZ
“What occurred at Delaney Hall today should shake every American to their core. As Members of Congress, we have a legal right to conduct oversight at any DHS facility without prior notice, as we have already done twice this year. Throughout every step of this visit, ICE attempted to intimidate everyone involved and impede our ability to conduct oversight.
“This is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I am shocked and disturbed that something like this happened in our community. Despite the lies and misinformation being spread by the Trump Administration, this will not stop our fight. We will continue to stand up for all of our neighbors and fight against this Administration’s attempts to undermine the rights of everyone who calls this country home.”