Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has vowed to continue his city’s legal fight against the private company managing a New Jersey immigration detention center, despite being arrested and charged with trespassing.
In a statement following his Tuesday arrest, Baraka told Rev Al Sharpton on MSNBC that the city would remain committed to its court case against Geo Group, the company operating the facility. “I know there are some protests planned by others, and if I feel obligated, I will attend,” Baraka said. “This does not end our dispute with Geo Group, and we will keep pursuing this in court.”
Baraka was arrested on Tuesday morning after participating in a protest and press conference outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, accompanied by three Democratic members of Congress. Homeland Security agents took Baraka into custody at a separate facility in Newark, releasing him about five hours later after charging him with trespassing.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, told CNN that more arrests were likely to follow the protest, including potential charges for the three lawmakers—Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver. McLaughlin claimed the lawmakers endangered law enforcement and detainees, stating DHS had body-camera footage showing some members of Congress assaulting ICE officers.
Newark had previously filed a lawsuit against Geo Group after the company secured a 15-year, $1 billion contract with ICE to operate Delaney Hall. The city accused Geo Group of renovating the facility without the necessary permits and barring city inspectors from entering. Both federal officials and Geo Group denied the allegations, with Geo Group asserting they had the proper permits and dismissing Baraka’s arrest as a “publicity stunt.” They also stated that Baraka was welcome to visit the facility as long as he followed security protocols like everyone else.
At the protest, Baraka joined the three Congress members, who were granted access to the facility as part of an oversight visit. A video reviewed by the New York Times showed a Homeland Security agent informing Baraka that he would be arrested if he attempted to enter the facility. Baraka, who had stepped away from the gates several times, was eventually arrested outside. He maintained that he did nothing wrong.
During his interview with Sharpton, Baraka described his treatment at the hands of DHS, stating he was placed in a cell, had a mugshot taken, was fingerprinted, and charged with federal trespassing. Despite the circumstances, Baraka noted that the police treated him fairly.
Baraka emphasized the lack of transparency surrounding the detention center, saying, “We don’t know what’s going on in there, we don’t know who’s in there. They don’t allow inspectors. They’re not complying with local laws.” He expressed frustration that federal authorities appeared to believe they were above the law and could bypass court oversight.
