Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Denies DHS Claims After Arrest Outside ICE Facility

Arrest and DHS Allegations

• 🚨 Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was handcuffed and arrested by ICE agents while protesting outside a federal immigration detention center.
• 🗣️ The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims the mayor was trespassing and ignored repeated warnings.
• 📺 DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated there would likely be more arrests and alleged body camera footage showed members of Congress assaulting ICE enforcement officers.

Mayor Baraka's Response

• 🤥 Baraka calls the DHS statements a "complete fabrication", suggesting the official was misinformed or lying.
• 📹 He asserts that video evidence, available from multiple angles and reporters, will show the egregiousness of the lies.
• 🚶 Baraka states that no one stormed the facility; instead, members of Congress were escorted inside by ICE to wait for Homeland Security.
• ⏳ He waited over an hour on the other side of the gate without issue and was let in, contradicting claims of trespassing.

Dispute with GEO and Purpose of Presence

• 🏢 Baraka explains his presence was due to an ongoing dispute with GEO, the private facility operator, regarding fire and health inspections.
• 📝 He was serving GEO with inspection notices daily because they refused entry.
• 📣 He was called to the facility for a press conference by members of Congress who had viewed the inside, intending to participate.
• 🏛️ As mayor, he asserts his right to be there to ensure rules and laws are followed and to promote transparency.

Escalation and False Arrest Claims

• 🎯 Baraka believes the special agent in charge escalated the situation specifically to arrest him.
• 👤 He insists he was the only person arrested that day, refuting claims of multiple arrests or others being detained.

Constitutional Concerns

• ⚖️ Baraka expresses worry about the erosion of the Constitution, democracy, and the rise of authoritarianism.
• 📢 He argues that the conversation around immigration is manipulated, focusing on criminals rather than individuals with green cards, citizens caught in the mayhem, or those awaiting lengthy processing.
• 📜 He emphasizes the importance of the Fourth Amendment (due process), stating it's a fundamental right that separates America from other countries.