Dem Rep’s Own Words Come Back to Haunt His Defense of Lawbreaking Newark Mayor

A confrontation at a federal immigration detention facility in Newark escalated Friday when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D) was arrested after attempting to gain unauthorized entry during what several Democratic lawmakers described as a “Congressional oversight” visit.

Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. (D-NJ), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) joined Baraka at the Delaney Hall detention center in an effort to inspect the conditions of detainees held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

🚨BREAKING: Dem. Rep. Robert Menendez just admitted on MSNBC that every lawmaker present used PHYSICAL VIOLENCE against federal law enforcement officers.@SpeakerJohnson needs to grow a spine and start expulsion for EVERY member involved!

No one is above the law!!! pic.twitter.com/CS6elCY8n7

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) May 9, 2025

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The facility currently houses criminal illegal immigrants, including individuals accused of serious crimes such as murder and child exploitation.

According to local reports, the group was stopped at the first checkpoint upon arrival.

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While the three members of Congress remained at the entrance, Mayor Baraka reportedly attempted to access the facility through a side entrance.

That move triggered a physical confrontation with federal authorities, which ended in Baraka’s arrest.

BREAKING: Newark Mayor Baraka has been arrested and taken into federal custody for storming an ICE facility pic.twitter.com/CdO6lhDBJV

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 9, 2025

The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this…

— US Attorney Habba (@USAttyHabba) May 9, 2025

The incident quickly drew political reactions online, including from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who posted criticism of the enforcement action on social media.

“The Trump @JDVance Administration has just arrested a mayor in Newark and shoved Members of Congress for protesting outside of an ICE facility,” Khanna wrote.

“In America, you cannot arrest your political opponents.”

Khanna’s remarks were met with swift rebuttal from congressional Republicans, including Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), who pointed out the double standard compared to prior Democratic statements about law enforcement and accountability.

“In America you cannot arrest your political opponents” https://t.co/Lb5EIAa8rw pic.twitter.com/qxdCsSMbfk

— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) May 9, 2025

“In America, you cannot arrest your political opponents.” https://t.co/u1LErR6bmX pic.twitter.com/kP2h1Kuzg2

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) May 9, 2025

https://t.co/g3pCYOk9VY pic.twitter.com/bBhcWyTbzJ

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) May 9, 2025

Meanwhile, here is Ro Khanna in his own words on nobody being above the law.

Many people disagreed with the Benghazi investigation, but every single Democrat participated and not one person disrupted the proceedings.

Being a member of Congress doesn’t give you the right to obstruct the rule of law. https://t.co/tuz8kg8UB1

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) October 28, 2019

No matter which political party you are in, we should all agree that America won’t succeed in the 21st century if we don’t uphold the laws of our country.

Nobody should be above the law — especially the President of the United States. https://t.co/VBrI0yxwId

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) December 19, 2019

The timing of the standoff also overlaps with ongoing Democratic criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

In particular, Democrats have focused on the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was returned to El Salvador earlier this year and held in a high-security prison.

Some reports have linked Garcia to the MS-13 gang, though legal challenges to his deportation remain pending.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that the administration must “facilitate” his return to the United States, despite his criminal background.

Multiple Democrats, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), have traveled abroad to advocate on Garcia’s behalf.

Van Hollen’s trip to El Salvador in March prompted widespread criticism from Republicans, who accused Democrats of prioritizing criminal migrants over national security.

In response to the Newark incident, ICE officials have not released further details regarding Baraka’s arrest or the potential charges.

As of Friday evening, Baraka remained in custody pending further review.

The Democratic lawmakers involved have defended their actions, claiming their visit was part of routine oversight responsibilities.

However, ICE officials indicated that the group did not have proper clearance to enter restricted areas of the facility.

Republican lawmakers and commentators have criticized the incident as another example of what they view as Democrats undermining federal immigration law enforcement.

They also noted the inconsistency in Democratic responses to lawbreaking depending on political affiliation.

The Delaney Hall detention center is one of several facilities in the state used to house detainees pending immigration proceedings or deportation.

Recent scrutiny of such facilities has intensified as the Trump administration continues efforts to prioritize the removal of illegal immigrants with criminal records.

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