Newark, NJ — In a political stunt gone wrong, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and three New Jersey congressional Democrats—Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Robert Menendez Jr.—found themselves in handcuffs after forcing their way into a federal immigration detention facility in Newark on Friday.
Mayor Baraka, long known for his vocal support of sweeping gun control laws, was arrested and charged with trespassing after ignoring multiple warnings from U.S. Homeland Security agents. According to federal officials, Baraka and the lawmakers disrupted security operations at Delaney Hall as a bus full of illegal immigrant detainees, including suspected gang members and international fugitives, was arriving.
In a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security, officials said, “Members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk.”
Despite claims from Baraka’s supporters that the incident was peaceful, DHS maintains the group bypassed protocol and entered restricted areas without authorization. Baraka was reportedly held for seven hours before being released. In defiant remarks outside the facility, he told supporters, “I didn’t do anything wrong,” claiming he was simply “supporting [his] Congress people.”
But the facts suggest otherwise. Delaney Hall is currently detaining individuals wanted for violent crimes ranging from homicide to child rape. ICE confirmed that just this past week, they had arrested multiple MS-13 gang members, a fugitive wanted in Brazil for murder, and another individual tied to international terrorism.
It’s a striking contrast for Baraka and his allies—elected officials who have aggressively pushed to disarm law-abiding Americans are now interfering in federal operations targeting some of the world’s most dangerous criminals.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has championed bans on “assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines, took part in the intrusion. Her website claims, “Only responsible people should own guns,” yet she appears unfazed by obstructing federal agents detaining known criminals, including armed gang affiliates.
Rep. LaMonica McIver, a co-sponsor of the “Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act,” likewise joined the facility breach. Just days earlier, she tweeted about getting “weapons off our streets,” yet here she was, interfering with a secure location housing those accused of using weapons to kill and terrorize.
In the U.S, there are more guns than people.
Today, I introduced the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act with @RepJahanaHayes and @RepWesleyBellMO to help get weapons off our streets.
Investing in gun violence prevention is a step toward more peace, safety, and opportunity for… pic.twitter.com/wyKWZnrqac
— Rep. LaMonica McIver (@RepLaMonica) April 17, 2025
Rep. Robert Menendez Jr., son of recently convicted Senator Bob Menendez—himself now a “prohibited person” under the same gun laws he championed—was also involved. The younger Menendez previously pushed to label foreign drug cartels as “terrorist organizations” and blame American gun owners for cartel violence. Ironically, he now stands accused of creating chaos at a facility detaining cartel-linked suspects.
American guns are empowering cartels and causing immense regional harm.
That’s why I led a letter with @RepDanGoldman, @SenatorLujan, & @SenatorBennet urging the Trump Admin to use its “foreign terrorist” designation to crack down on the US gun pipeline fueling cartel violence.
— Rep. Rob Menendez (@RepMenendez) May 9, 2025
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, known for her prior work representing President Trump, didn’t mince words: “Baraka committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings. No one is above the law.” She added that Baraka’s actions amounted to “grandstanding,” not governance.
.@AlinaHabba slams Democratic leadership pushback over opening an ICE facility in sanctuary city Newark, NJ on ‘The Story’ with @marthamaccallum. pic.twitter.com/KKleGF6rYJ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 5, 2025
Political theater or not, this incident reveals a growing disconnect between Democrat leaders’ crusade for gun control and their disregard for federal enforcement of immigration and criminal laws. As some of the loudest voices pushing for restrictions on the Second Amendment, Baraka and his congressional allies now find themselves on the wrong side of the law—and public opinion.
In the end, this protest may not have just backfired politically—it could serve as a powerful reminder of what happens when those who want to disarm the public show contempt for the laws and law enforcement they expect the rest of us to obey.
Menendez Latest in Long Line of Criminal Anti-Gun Democrats to Become ‘Prohibited Persons’
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