The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is investigating a chaotic incident at a New Jersey detention facility late last week that involved Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officials, members of Congress, and the mayor of Newark.
As reported on Monday’s AM Update, three Democrat lawmakers – Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver – arrived at Delaney Hall detention center in Newark on Friday seeking a tour of the facility. Democrat Mayor Ras Baraka, a vocal critic and frequent protestor of the privately run facility, was also on the scene.
What happened next is a he-said, she-said between the Democrat officials and DHS.
The Allegations
Congresswoman McIver told CNN the visit was a matter of routine oversight. “[It] is the reason we were there in the first place to have a tour of this facility that had just opened up on May 1. It had over 100 detainees. We were getting reports… that children were there,” she told Dana Bash on Sunday. “We didn’t know the status of the facility or the status of the detainees. So, that is why we showed up there… Immigration has been something that is in the… backyards of New Jersey, and its our jobs to make sure everything is running properly at this facility.”
Mayor Baraka was denied entry by Homeland Security, and, according to Interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, the mayor allegedly ignored multiple warnings to leave the premises. Tensions began to escalate, and DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CNN’s Victor Blackwell the officials then stormed the facility.
“These members of Congress, including the mayor as well, in a mob of protesters, as there was a bus of detainees going through the gate, they stormed the gate and actually entered the first checkpoint,” she alleged. “This put law enforcement at risk, and this actually put the detainees, as well, at risk.”
ICE later released body camera footage showing Rep. McIver appearing to physically engage with a law enforcement officer. Fox News’ Bill Melugin posted the videos on X Saturday. Watch:
The mayor was arrested at the scene and charged with trespassing. He was released Friday evening without bond.
Congresswoman Watson Coleman and Congressman Rob Menendez, son of disgraced former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), blamed law enforcement for escalating the situation. “Nothing happened other than the chaos that they created themselves,” Rep. Watson Coleman told CNN. “If anything, we were pushed and shoved and found in a very vulnerable situation.”
“They had over 20 armed ICE HSI officers… their faces were covered, and they were wearing no identification,” Rep. Menendez added. “This is who they chose to have come engage with the mayor of Newark and three elected members of the House of Representatives… They made this a violent scene.”
What Comes Next
Assistant Secretary McLaughlin said the members of Congress may face charges. “There will likely be more arrests coming,” she told Blackwell. “This is an ongoing investigation and that is definitely on the table.”
Ultimately, the three members of Congress were given a tour of the facility, and Rep. Coleman Watson said the conditions “aren’t bad. It’s clean. They’re feeding them.”
You can get all the day’s headlines by tuning into the AM Update with Megyn Kelly on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch AM Update live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays at 8:45am ET.