Sat May 10 17:30:17 UTC 2025: ## Newark Mayor Denies Trespassing Charge After ICE Arrest
**Newark, NJ** – Newark Mayor Ras Baraka vehemently denied trespassing charges on Saturday, a day after his arrest and several hours in police custody at a new federal immigration detention center. Baraka, a vocal opponent of the 1,000-bed Delaney Hall ICE facility, claims he was invited onto the property for a press conference and subsequently arrested on the sidewalk.
The mayor has been actively protesting the facility’s opening, citing alleged building permit violations. However, federal authorities allege Baraka trespassed and ignored warnings to leave the premises. Interim US Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Baraka “disregarded the law,” while a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, accused him of playing “political games” and stated that the investigation is ongoing, with further video evidence to be released.
Video footage of the incident appears to show Baraka’s arrest occurring after he returned to the public area outside the facility’s gate following a protest with several other lawmakers. The arrest, which involved a scuffle with ICE agents, has drawn sharp criticism. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy expressed outrage at what he termed an “unjust arrest.” Mayor Baraka himself stated he was “shocked by the lies” surrounding the incident. The conflicting accounts leave the situation unresolved, pending the release of further evidence and the continuation of the investigation.
First Piper 