Congresswoman LaMonica McIver Charged with Assaulting ICE Agent Amid Newark Protest Controversy
By XMN News Staff
May 19, 2025 | 08:01 PM AST
NEWARK, NJ – U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba, announced late Monday evening that Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-Newark) has been charged with violating Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 111(a)(1) for assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement. The charges stem from a heated protest at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark on May 9, 2025, where McIver allegedly attempted to shield Newark Mayor Ras Baraka during his arrest for trespassing.
The incident unfolded as McIver, alongside fellow Democratic Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, protested the reopening of the Delaney Hall facility. The group accused the Department of Homeland Security of operating the center without proper permits, in violation of local ordinances. Mayor Baraka, a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, was arrested after ignoring warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to leave the premises. Video footage reviewed by the Associated Press shows a federal official informing Baraka he could not enter the facility because he was not a member of Congress, shortly before his arrest.
According to Habba’s statement, McIver “forcefully attempted to protect Baraka both physically and verbally” as he was led away, leading to what authorities describe as an assault on an ICE agent. While some Republican claims allege McIver body-slammed or punched the agent, available footage only confirms a “scuffle,” casting doubt on the severity of the incident. The Department of Homeland Security released a clip on May 10, showing McIver, wearing a red blazer, at the gate of Delaney Hall, with the caption alleging an assault on an ICE agent.
Habba’s statement also addressed the dismissal of charges against Baraka, noting that her office agreed to drop them “in the spirit of public interest” to allow the mayor to focus on his duties and the city to “move forward.” However, she emphasized that McIver’s actions warranted accountability, stating, “No one should be above the law, not the president, not the Attorney General, and certainly not a sitting member of Congress.” This decision has fueled accusations of selective prosecution, particularly given the recent dismissal of corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in April 2025, which many have pointed to as evidence of inconsistent legal standards.
The protest at Delaney Hall is part of a broader clash between New Jersey Democrats and the Trump administration over immigration policy. Baraka, who is running to succeed term-limited Governor Phil Murphy, has been a vocal opponent of ICE operations in Newark, particularly after a January 2025 raid he claimed was conducted without a warrant. The Delaney Hall facility, which opened on May 1 under a $1 billion, 15-year contract between ICE and the GEO Group, has been a flashpoint for local activists and politicians who argue it violates building permit regulations. Baraka has since announced that Newark is suing GEO Group over alleged inspection violations, signaling a continued legal battle.
The charges against McIver come amid heightened tensions between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration, with some DHS officials, including Tricia McLaughlin, indicating that further arrests related to the protest are “definitely on the table.” As the case unfolds, it is likely to intensify debates over immigration enforcement, legal accountability, and the politicization of justice in an already polarized political climate.