On Sunday, Rep. Rob Menendez (DN.J.) criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) during an event at an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
“It felt like this place could have been empty, but it was clear that HSI, the ICE courtroom, was active,” he said. “They turned it into a scene of violence, and we were unfortunately caught up in it.”
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D), along with council members Bonnie Watson Coleman (DN.J.) and Lamonica McQuiver (DN.J.), attempted to visit the detention center on Friday but faced significant issues when Baraka was arrested for trespassing, which sparked public outrage.
“Mayor Baraka disregarded multiple warnings from HSI about trespassing and chose to ignore the law during his visit to the ICE facility in New Jersey,” reported local authorities.
Following the incident, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mentioned that the arrests of the three New Jersey representatives were “on the table.”
“We have body camera footage showing some of these Congress members confronting ICE officers, including instances of physical aggression against female personnel,” they added.
During his appearance on CNN, Menendez claimed that over “20 armed ICE and HSI officers” were present.
“They were heavily armed… their faces were concealed and they lacked identifiable markings,” he noted. “This was their choice for engagement with the mayor and three elected officials.”
Efforts to reach ICE and DHS for further comments were made.
