Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is like, “Nah, I didn’t trespass” at a new federal immigration detention center where he got arrested while chilling with three Congress members. The Democrat, who’s been all about protesting the center’s opening, got released around 8 p.m. Friday after some quality time in custody. They said he was trespassing and not leaving when asked at the Delaney Hall facility.
Tricia McLaughlin, who’s in charge of public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, told CNN that they’re still checking things out and more videos are coming. She also called out Baraka, who’s trying to get his party’s nomination for governor, for playing “political games.”
Baraka is all like, “Bruh, so many lies up in here.” He claims he was invited for a press conference but got arrested on the sidewalk while no one else did.
This dude is running for governor to take over from Phil Murphy, who’s on his way out, and he’s all about fighting the Trump administration on illegal immigration. He’s been super vocal about shutting down the 1,000-bed detention center because of some permit issues.
Alina Habba, the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, is saying Baraka trespassed at the detention spot, which is run by the Geo Group. She’s saying he straight up ignored the law.
The video of the whole thing shows Baraka getting arrested when he went back to the public side of the gate to the facility.
There was a whole scene where Baraka tried to get in with the three Congress members, but the feds said no. Viri Martinez, an activist, said things got heated, and they arrested Baraka even after he went back to the public side of the gate.
The Department of Homeland Security is saying the lawmakers didn’t ask for a tour, which they would’ve totally done. They’re saying the politicians just barged in as a bus of detainees was coming in.
Watson Coleman, one of the Congress members, said they were there to check the place out, not for a scheduled tour. She’s saying they didn’t “storm” the detention center like DHS claimed.
In the video, you can hear a Homeland Security Investigations official telling Baraka he can’t go in because he’s not a Congress member. Then Baraka goes back to the protesters, and they warn him about getting arrested. Next thing you know, ICE agents show up, and Baraka gets cuffed.
Rep. Menendez is saying they have the right to check out DHS facilities without a heads-up, but ICE was all about trying to mess with them that day.
The detention center used to be a halfway house next to a county prison. Then ICE gave Geo Group a fat contract to run the place for 15 years, and it’s worth over a billion bucks.
Trump wanted to up the detention bed count big time, so this deal was part of that plan. Baraka sued Geo Group right after the contract news.
Geo Group was hyped about the contract during their shareholder meeting, saying it would bring in over $60 million a year. They started taking in people on May 1.
DHS is saying the place is all good with permits and passed inspections.
So, really not sure why all this matters, but there you have it. It’s like a whole drama up in here with Baraka and the detention center.
