By: Richard L. Smith
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on May 9, during a protest at the newly reopened Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Newark, New Jersey. 
The facility, operated by private prison company GEO Group under a $1 billion, 15-year contract with ICE, has been a focal point of controversy since its reopening on May 1.
Federal officials said Baraka, accompanied by U.S. Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver, attempted to gain access to the facility, citing concerns over safety violations and lack of proper permits, including a certificate of occupancy.
When denied entry, a scuffle ensued between protesters and facility officials, leading to Baraka’s arrest.
U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, stated,
“Mayor Ras Baraka committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand.”
Baraka has been a vocal critic of the facility, arguing that its operation without proper city permits violates local and state laws. The city has filed a lawsuit against GEO Group, seeking to halt operations until compliance is achieved. 
The incident stresses the ongoing tension between local and federal authorities over immigration enforcement and the operation of detention facilities.