Newark, New Jersey, May 11, 2025 — Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba has confirmed that arrests are imminent for three Democratic members of Congress following a chaotic confrontation at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Newark on Friday. The update, which Habba shared in a statement late Sunday, escalates the fallout from the incident that saw Newark Mayor Ras Baraka arrested for trespassing, spotlighting tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers over immigration enforcement.
The incident unfolded at Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE facility set to house 1,000 immigrants, including those labeled by DHS as “murderers, terrorists, child rapists, and MS-13 gang members.” Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver, all New Jersey Democrats, joined Baraka to conduct a congressional oversight visit, a right they legally hold. Baraka, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has been vocal about the facility’s reopening, alleging it lacks proper city permits. The visit turned volatile when ICE agents arrested Baraka, prompting a physical altercation. Habba stated that bodycam footage shows the congresswomen assaulting officers, including an alleged “body slam” of a female ICE agent.
“These members of Congress assaulted our ICE enforcement officers, and we will not tolerate such actions,” Habba said in her Sunday statement. She emphasized that her office is reviewing the footage and coordinating with DHS to determine charges, which could include assault and obstruction. The announcement has sent shockwaves through Democratic circles, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanding the identification of the “masked agents” involved, while Governor Phil Murphy called Baraka’s arrest unjustified, noting his status as an “exemplary public servant.”
However, the narrative remains contested. Watson Coleman and McIver have denied the assault claims, with Watson Coleman calling Habba’s account “a lie” on WNYC’s Morning Edition. Footage reviewed by Gothamist shows shoving but no clear “body slam,” casting doubt on DHS’s portrayal. Baraka, released without bond, told CNN he was on public property and received no warnings to leave, directly contradicting Habba’s earlier claims on Fox News that he ignored multiple warnings.
Habba, a former Trump attorney appointed as interim U.S. Attorney in March 2025, has been a polarizing figure. Her tenure has been marked by aggressive immigration enforcement, including investigations into Governor Murphy over New Jersey’s sanctuary policies. Critics argue her actions reflect the Trump administration’s broader strategy to target political opponents, pointing to her April 2025 investigation into Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin for allegedly obstructing ICE. Supporters, however, see her as a tough-on-crime prosecutor upholding federal law, especially after her role in a US Marshals-led raid in April that arrested a suspected Bloods gang member.
The incident at Delaney Hall underscores the administration’s hardline immigration stance, which has included reopening detention centers and deporting thousands since Trump’s return to office. Yet, it also highlights the legal and ethical gray areas of such enforcement. The lawmakers’ right to oversight clashes with ICE’s operational protocols, and the lack of clarity in the footage raises questions about Habba’s rush to criminalize their actions. If charges are filed, they could set a precedent for how far the administration will go to silence dissent, potentially chilling congressional oversight of federal agencies.
For now, Habba’s update signals that the Justice Department is doubling down, framing the Democrats’ actions as a direct challenge to law enforcement. Whether this leads to actual arrests—or becomes another flashpoint in the ongoing battle over immigration policy—remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Habba, backed by Trump’s mandate, is not backing down, leaving New Jersey’s political landscape more fractured than ever.
