Federal Charges Against Rep. Lamonica McQuiver
A federal jury has brought a three-count complaint against Rep. Lamonica McQuiver (D-NJ) following an incident at an Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in New Jersey last month.
This Tuesday, the federal court in Newark announced the indictment, which accuses McQuiver of obstructing an ICE agent during the attempted arrest of an undocumented individual outside the Delaney Hall Detention Center on May 9.
According to the indictment, McQuiver was present at the Delaney Hall along with fellow Congress members Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), coinciding with demonstrations from open border advocates.
The charges suggest McQuiver tried to prevent the arrest of the individual after Newark’s Mayor Las Baraka (D) had declined to exit the secure area of the detention center.
Reportedly, once the council delegation entered the secure zone, the mayor arrived and accessed that area. Federal officers informed him that his presence was unauthorized and warned of potential arrest if he didn’t leave. McQuiver and others allegedly protested these warnings and challenged the officers.
As officers moved to detain the mayor, McQuiver and others reportedly surrounded him to hinder the arrest. When the mayor was eventually escorted away from the secure zone, law enforcement attempted a second arrest. During this time, someone shouted about surrounding the mayor. McQuiver then allegedly confronted the mayor, putting her arm around him to block the arrest. Reports indicate that during her efforts, she forcefully struck one officer with her forearm and attempted to restrain him.
U.S. Attorney Alina Habababa commented on the situation, highlighting her responsibility as a federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey to ensure that federal agents are safe while performing their duties.
She noted that while individuals are entitled to express opinions about policies, it shouldn’t come at the expense of safety for law enforcement or the communities they serve.
If convicted, McQuiver could face a sentence of up to 17 years in federal prison.
