Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested at a federal immigration detention center amid protests against its opening, per News 12.
Baraka has been a vocal critic of the construction and opening of Delany Hall, a 1,000-bed ICE detention center that he argues shouldn’t be opened due to building permit issues.
On Friday (May 9), Baraka attempted to conduct an oversight inspection of the facility along with members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, including Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman. The mayor was joining the group for their scheduled tour of Delaney Hall when federal officials blocked his entry, sparking a heated confrontation.
Baraka was eventually handcuffed and taken to the Homeland Security Investigations headquarters. Protestors gathered outside the building where Baraka was held, yelling, “Let the mayor go!”