The recently arrested mayor of Newark, New Jersey is claiming he is being unfairly targeted after trespassing on an ICE facility last week.
Ras Baraka (D) was arrested last week after he and multiple Congressional lawmakers stormed a Newark, New Jersey, ICE facility in the name of an “oversight” visit.
“We believe that I was targeted in this,” Baraka told reporters after his court date after he was arrested at the Delaney Hall facility last week.
“I was the only person arrested. That’s right. You know, I was the only person identified. I was the only person, you know, they put in a cell. You know, the only person, I think that was in cuffs to the whole process that’s here this morning, going through this humiliation for these people.”
In court, Baraka’s defense team contested his arrest and declined to take a plea deal while arguing that the government has not provided enough evidence to prove that he was lawfully arrested.
The trespassing charge against Baraka, a class C misdemeanor, has a statutory maximum sentence of 30 days in prison.
“Newark has become an epicenter for ICE’s terror and overreach,” Viri Martinez, manager of member empowerment at New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, told a crowd outside the court.
The dramatic confrontation at a New Jersey Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Friday is resulting in a federal investigation and potential criminal charges against three Democratic members of Congress. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Representatives LaMonica McIver, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Rob Menendez Jr. may face legal consequences after allegedly storming the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark alongside Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
“Look, there’s three possible disciplinary actions in Congress that the House can take,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters at his weekly press conference Wednesday.
The incident unfolded during what the lawmakers described as an unannounced oversight visit. DHS officials, however, claim the delegation—accompanied by a group of demonstrators—forced entry into a restricted area during the arrival of a detainee transport bus.
The agency alleges that a female ICE officer was assaulted in the scuffle, with body camera footage reportedly capturing Rep. McIver “body-slamming” the officer. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated on Fox News that arrests for the lawmakers remain “on the table,” adding, “Just because you are a member of Congress or a public official does not mean you are above the law.”
READ NEXT: The Art Of The Gulf: Trump’s Tactical Feint In Middle East Diplomacy
A whole lot of words but no real action from the justice department. When will these moronic democratic politician be prosecuted?
He’s definitely NOT a victim of “targeting.” He’s an arrogant AH who believes his name and title ENTITLE him to special favors..
They had NO business interfering with the processing of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS held a the processing center.
He needs to TEND to HIS constituents.
I watched ONE video and “they” were NOT orderly. The female congresswoman, I believe LaMomica, was especially aggressive towards female agents. I did not witness this, but I read that she eventually did BODY SLAM a female agent
If arrest, shcarges, and a trial with sentencing up to 30 days in jail is what it takes to wake up there fools, so be it.
No, he is the “victim” of someone FINALLY holding him accountable for his actions, Isn’t he? I know the is a novel thing for a liberal to actually pay the penalty for breaking the law, but it happens sometimes.
Been days since they did this, arrest them all.
These leftist politicians are just trying to prove they are above the law. We’ll have to wait and see what happens. Maybe they will be.
REALLY? The jackass pulled a not very well thought out stunt and it failed myserably. He went to a Federal Institution and tried to force his way in. It did not work. He tried to block the entrance and interfear with Federal Operatoins. One can get shot doing that, expecially at a detention center when they are all armed. He said they did not have the proper permits, they did, so his argument was total political lies and baseless. He tried to get prisoners out, they are the worst of the worst, Murders, Rapists, Thugs, Gang Members, and thiefs.
So he thinks thae being a black mayor entitles him to violate federal law, not going to happen. He was asked to leave, he didn’t and in fact forced himself into a secondary barrier with his participants. They should have all been arrested and detained in some location. I hope a real Judge throws the book at them.
Yep, ICE was targeting. They were searching for a moron & you popped up!