By: Richard L. Smith
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was released shortly after 8 p.m. Friday evening following his arrest at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility earlier in the day.
Baraka had joined protesters at the site to oppose the center’s reopening, citing unresolved permit and safety concerns that his administration has raised in recent weeks.
Upon his release, the mayor told supporters, “We did nothing wrong,” and urged the crowd to return home peacefully.
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba stated that Baraka was taken into custody after allegedly trespassing on federal property and ignoring multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations officers to leave.
As of now, no federal charges have been filed.
Delaney Hall, operated by private prison contractor GEO Group under a 15-year, $1 billion contract with ICE, has drawn widespread protests from advocates and city officials.
Newark has filed a pending lawsuit challenging the facility’s operation, citing lack of permits and failure to comply with city inspections.
Friday’s arrest drew swift reactions from Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, both expressing support for Baraka’s right to protest and calling his arrest troubling.
This incident follows weeks of heightened tensions over the detention center’s reopening, with hundreds of demonstrators gathering outside the facility in recent days.
Authorities have not indicated when, or if, formal charges will be pursued.