Congresswoman Charged with Assault After Immigration Center Confrontation

Newark, New Jersey — Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver has been charged with two counts of assault following a confrontation with federal law enforcement officers outside an immigration detention facility on May 9. The charges were announced by Alina Habba, the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, via social media on Monday.

The incident took place outside Delaney Hall, a privately run immigration detention center that recently reopened. McIver, along with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other Democratic lawmakers, visited the facility as part of an oversight effort to investigate conditions for detainees. Scuffles broke out during their visit, leading to Baraka’s arrest.

The formal complaint alleges that McIver used her forearms to push ICE agents and attempted to prevent their efforts to arrest Baraka. Bodycam footage reportedly captures her in a crowded scene, though it remains unclear whether any contact with officers was intentional.

McIver maintains that her actions were lawful, asserting that she was fulfilling her oversight responsibilities as a Congress member. She labeled the charges as purely political and aimed at deterring legislative oversight.

Reacting to the charges, Habba emphasized that “no one is above the law,” underscoring the impartial nature of judicial enforcement. Meanwhile, the decision to charge a sitting member of Congress is notably rare, historically reserved for serious offenses beyond typical misconduct.

Baraka’s misdemeanor trespassing charges were dismissed by Habba, who offered to personally guide him through the detention center. He has publicly supported McIver amid the controversy.

Democratic leaders have denounced the charges as extreme and lacking merit, claiming they interfere with Congress’s role in oversight. Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House, pointed out that their visit was in accordance with legislative responsibilities and that the congresswomen were aggressive mistreated during the incident.

McIver, a Newark native who served on the city council before her election to Congress in 2023, has received an outpouring of support from fellow lawmakers, who argue that the charges represent an intimidation tactic against members of Congress involved in oversight.

The situation has drawn widespread attention, stirring debate over the Trump administration’s approach to immigration policies and its implications for congressional authority. As of now, McIver and her attorneys have yet to receive the formal charging documents.