New Jersey mayor arrested outdoors ICE facility after protest with members of Congress
Newark, New Jersey mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Elizabeth on Friday as the mayor and members of Congress joined demonstrations demanding answers from Donald Trump’s administration about the conditions inside, marking a major escalation of immigration protests surrounding t he facility.
New Jersey’s acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba — Trump’s former defense attorney — accused the mayor of trespassing and ignoring warnings from federal law enforcement agents to leave.
“He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW,” Habba wrote.
Lawmakers gathered in Newark on Friday to demand answers from ICE following the opening of the private, for-profit facility that can detain more than 1,000 people.
Video from outside the facility shows masked federal officers trying to hold back a crowd outside the detention center’s fence as Baraka is escorted towards the building in handcuffs.
In February, ICE agency awarded GEO Group a 15-year, $1 billion contract to hold immigrants facing deportation inside the two-story facility known as Delaney Hall.
The building is near Newark Liberty International Airport, which has been used by the federal government to stage removal flights.
Baraka has vowed to join daily demonstrations outside the facility until city official are allowed inside to inspect its conditions.
This is a developing story
Source: independent.co.uk
