Chaos erupted at Delaney Hall ICE detention center when Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) allegedly assaulted officers during a so-called oversight visit.
Breitbart reported that McIver, joined by fellow Democrats and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, faces charges for storming the Newark, New Jersey facility, with DHS releasing damning video evidence.
The incident, sparking heated debate, pits claims of political persecution against accusations of reckless lawbreaking. McIver and her colleagues, including Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Robert Menendez arrived at Delaney Hall, claiming to conduct federal oversight.
Their unannounced entry, however, quickly escalated into a confrontation with ICE officers. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem didn’t mince words: “No one is above the law.”
A group of protesters, including two members of Congress, reportedly broke through the facility’s security gate as a bus of detainees entered.
Video footage shows the lawmakers pushing and shoving officers, contradicting their narrative of a peaceful visit. McIver’s claim of “purely political” charges rings hollow when cameras tell a different story.
“We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities,” McIver insisted, framing the incident as a routine inspection gone wrong. Yet, storming a federal facility hardly qualifies as standard procedure. Actions, it seems, have consequences.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, arrested for trespassing during the melee, saw his misdemeanor charge dismissed by Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba. Habba extended an olive branch, inviting Baraka for an official tour of Delaney Hall. “The government has nothing to hide,” she declared, a subtle jab at the group’s tactics.
McIver faces serious charges under Title 18, Section 111(a)(1), for assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement. DHS’s video evidence shows her group’s aggressive actions, undermining her defense of a peaceful oversight mission. Denying she body-slammed an officer, McIver quipped, “I honestly do not know how to body slam anyone.”
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman doubled down, claiming on CNN that “nothing happened” and lawmakers were “pushed and shoved.”
Such deflections crumble under the weight of video proof. Congressional oversight doesn’t grant a free pass to break the law.
Habba’s office emphasized accountability, stating that assaulting officers, regardless of status, demands prosecution. “If any person… assaults a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted,” Noem warned. The message is clear: privilege doesn’t shield reckless behavior.
The incident has ignited a firestorm, with Democrats crying foul over alleged political targeting. McIver’s assertion that charges aim to “criminalize and deter legislative oversight” paints her as a victim. But illegally entering a secure facility isn’t oversight—it’s a stunt gone wrong.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the lawmakers’ actions as a “bizarre political stunt” endangering officers and detainees. Had they requested a tour, she noted, ICE would have complied. Some prefer grandstanding over protocol.
Noem praised ICE officers for their service, underscoring their role in maintaining order amid chaos. “We thank our brave ICE law enforcement officers,” she said. Their restraint, despite being shoved, deserves commendation.
Habba’s decision to dismiss Baraka’s charge reflects a desire to de-escalate while holding firm on McIver’s accountability. Her offer to personally accompany Baraka on a tour signals transparency, not weakness. New Jersey’s citizens, Habba noted, “deserve unified leadership” focused on safety.
McIver’s defense hinges on portraying ICE as the aggressor, but video evidence suggests otherwise. “There’s no video that supports me body slamming anyone,” she claimed, yet DHS’s footage paints a less flattering picture. Oversight is a right, not a blank check for lawlessness.