Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka made his first court appearance following his arrest at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility that has sparked controversy and demonstrations.
According to Fox News, Baraka appeared in federal court Thursday for a status conference to address trespassing charges stemming from his arrest at the Delaney Hall facility last week, where he rejected a plea deal while maintaining he was specifically targeted during the incident.
The arrest occurred when Baraka and three members of Congress attempted to enter the facility during a protest. As an ICE bus approached, the gates opened, and the officials reportedly rushed past security despite multiple warnings. Baraka was the only one arrested and charged with trespassing, a class C misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in prison.
Baraka's defense team contested the arrest during the court proceedings, arguing that prosecutors had not provided sufficient evidence to prove the mayor was lawfully arrested. The defense requested all exculpatory evidence by May 19 and discovery by May 22, which both parties agreed to during the hearing.
The mayor, who is currently running for governor of New Jersey, expressed his belief that he was singled out during the incident. He described being fingerprinted and photographed in the court's basement, viewing it as an attempt to humiliate him.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse to show support for Baraka, with activist groups condemning ICE's actions. Viri Martinez, representing the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, declared Newark had become "an epicenter for ICE's terror and overreach."
The incident has drawn attention from House Republicans, who are now considering disciplinary actions against the three Democratic Congress members who accompanied Baraka during the protest - Representatives Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
The congressional representatives maintain they were performing their congressionally-mandated oversight duties related to federal detention facilities. The situation has intensified existing tensions between immigration enforcement authorities and local officials.
U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, who attended Thursday's court proceeding, faced protesters chanting "shame" as she entered the courtroom. She had previously criticized Baraka's actions on social media, emphasizing that he had ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations.
Baraka strongly defended his actions at the facility, stating:
We did not violate any laws. We stood up for the Constitution of this country, the Constitution, 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.
The facility at the center of the controversy, Delaney Hall, was recently converted into an immigration detention center this year. Activists had been demanding access to the facility for days before the incident occurred.
The trespassing charge against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka stems from his attempt to inspect conditions at the Delaney Hall ICE facility alongside three members of Congress. The incident occurred when officials tried to enter as gates opened for an ICE bus, resulting in Baraka's arrest and subsequent court appearance.
As the case proceeds, the defense and prosecution will submit scheduling proposals for consideration, with no trial date currently set. The mayor faces potential jail time if convicted, while the involved Congress members may face separate consequences for their participation in the protest.
