By: Richard L. Smith
NJ, what appeared to be a peaceful protest at Newark’s Delaney Hall immigration detention center earlier in the day erupted into controversy Friday afternoon when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested by federal authorities, sparking swift condemnation from state officials, civil rights advocates, and community leaders.
According to the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), Baraka was taken into custody while protesting the reopening of Delaney Hall, a facility run by the private prison giant GEO Group under a $1 billion, 15-year contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The center began housing detainees on May 1, despite an ongoing lawsuit by the city over permit, occupancy, and inspection compliance.
“This is an affront to free speech and the right to protest,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut. “Mayor Baraka was standing up for lawful governance and the rights of immigrants. We stand in solidarity with him and demand his immediate release.
TIMELINE:
- May 1, 2025: Delaney Hall begins housing ICE detainees under GEO Group.
- Early May: Newark files a lawsuit citing permit and inspection violations.
- May 9, 2025: Mayor Baraka leads a protest at the facility; hundreds gather in support.
- May 9, 2025, afternoon: Baraka is arrested by federal authorities after allegedly ignoring warnings to leave the property.
Baraka, who has been an outspoken critic of the facility, had just days earlier held a press conference at City Hall slamming GEO Group’s operation, highlighting what he called a dangerous lack of city approvals, including a certificate of occupancy and safety inspections.
In a public statement, Governor Phil Murphy called the arrest “outrageous,” adding:
“Mayor Baraka is an exemplary public servant who has always stood up for our most vulnerable neighbors. I am calling for his immediate release by federal law enforcement.”
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin also weighed in, saying,
“Arresting public officials for peacefully protesting violates the most basic principles of our democracy.
People exercising their right to free speech and assembly should never be targeted for opposing government policies.”
Platkin noted that no state or local officers were involved in the arrest and reaffirmed his office’s commitment to defending New Jersey’s law banning private immigration detention centers.
Federal officials, however, defended the arrest. Interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba posted on social media:
“Mayor Ras Baraka committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand.”
CAIR-NJ has called not only for Baraka’s release but also for a full investigation into the conditions at Delaney Hall and the legality of its ongoing operations.
As news of the arrest spread, hundreds began gathering outside the facility, waving signs and calling for the mayor’s release, while civil rights groups nationwide amplified the protest on social media.
The unfolding situation has become a flashpoint in the larger national debate over immigration enforcement, private detention centers, and the right to protest.
Authorities have not yet announced when Baraka will appear in court.
Meanwhile, his supporters vow to keep the pressure on until he is released and the facility’s future is resolved.