Far-left mayor arrested at ICE facility denies impeding law enforcement, says protest 'absolutely' effective

Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka, who was arrested for trespassing portion protesting astatine a national migration installation past week, said Monday during a televised gubernatorial statement that his actions were "absolutely" an effectual mode to protestation the president's migration clampdown.

Baraka has denied helium did thing incorrect contempt national authorities arresting him for trespassing astatine the Delaney Hall detention installation successful Newark connected Friday. 

During Monday's statement among Democrat candidates successful New Jersey's unfastened governor's race, helium doubled down connected the assertion helium did thing wrong. 

"We haven't interfered with national law enforcement," Baraka said aboriginal connected successful the statement erstwhile moderators turned their questioning to Friday's incidental astatine the ICE detention installation successful Newark. "We didn't spell down determination to protest. We really went down determination to person a property conference. And the Congress has oversight. And they began to workout their oversight. It was escalated by Homeland Security. They made an apprehension due to the fact that they got a telephone to bash so. And that's what happened."

WHO IS THE DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING AT AN ICE DETENTION CENTER?

Baraka's apprehension occurred during a protestation astatine Delaney Hall attended by 3 members of Congress, who said they were successful attendance to execute their congressionally-mandated oversight duties related to national detention facilities. The 3 lawmakers were extracurricular the installation with a radical of protesters erstwhile the gates opened to let an ICE autobus in. The lawmakers past rushed done the gates and past security, according to officials from the Department of Homeland Security. 

The apprehension came arsenic activists had been calling for entree to the installation for days, which is simply a privately tally installation that was revamped arsenic an migration detention installation this year.  

"We're not asking for thing that's incorrect. We inquire them to obey our laws," Baraka said aft the incident. "To obey the policies and rules present successful the metropolis and the authorities of New Jersey, not to tally roughshod implicit the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, the Fourth, the Fifth, the Fourteenth Amendment and everybody connected this ungraded who deserves owed process."

NEWARK MAYOR SPEAKS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM HSI FACILITY

Newark, N.J., Mayor Ras Baraka speaks during the Democrat gubernatorial superior statement connected May 12, 2025. (Steve Hockstein/NJ Advance Media via AP, Pool)

During Monday night's debate, the different gubernatorial candidates were asked if they thought Baraka's tactics were "effective" the aforesaid mode helium does and whether they would person done things differently. While, for the astir part, each the candidates tip-toed astir the question, alternatively choosing to tout their bona fides successful supporting migration and challenging President Donald Trump, immoderate did explicit enactment for Baraka.

"I'm not saying I would bash thing differently," said Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the four-term Democrat representing the state's 11th Congressional District. "I don't deliberation the politician was trespassing. In talking to my legislature colleagues, helium was invited in. They asked him to leave, helium left, and past helium got arrested."

New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, left, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sermon issues astatine the New Jersey Democrat gubernatorial superior statement connected May 12, 2025. (Steve Hockstein/NJ Advance Media via AP, Pool)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

"Ras didn't bash thing wrong," Steve Fluop, the politician of Jersey City and different campaigner for New Jersey governor, said successful nonstop effect to the moderators' question astir whether they agreed with Baraka's tactics. 

The remainder of the candidates did not straight reply the question earlier the moderators moved connected to the adjacent topic.