On Friday, Democratic members of Congress and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka forcefully entered the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Facility at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, in what federal authorities describe as an unauthorized confrontation. According to Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), during the incursion several lawmakers engaged in physical altercations with ICE personnel, including an incident involving the bodyslamming of a female officer.
At approximately midday on May 9, 2025, a group of Democratic Representatives—LaMonica McIver, Bob Menendez, and Bonnie Watson Coleman—accompanied by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, approached the secure perimeter of Delaney Hall. Video recordings obtained from ICE body-worn cameras show the lawmakers and Baraka pressing past facility signage and staff attempting to maintain order.
Once inside the secure zone, the group engaged in a heated exchange with on-duty ICE officers. As tensions escalated, McIver and other participants physically shoved against agents, and at one point McIver is seen forcefully pushing a female ICE agent to the ground. According to DHS, this constituted an assault on a federal officer.
In a televised interview on CNN, Tricia McLaughlin—DHS’s Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs—characterized the lawmakers’ behavior as both unauthorized and unlawful. McLaughlin asserted that the Democratic members of Congress had “breached federal property without permission and then assaulted our enforcement officers.” She emphasized that the department would pursue all available legal avenues, stating, “We have body-worn camera footage documenting the assault. Those responsible will be held accountable under federal law.”
When pressed by CNN anchors about the likelihood of arresting sitting members of Congress, McLaughlin replied, “That is definitely on the table. Any individual, regardless of office, who commits assault on a federal officer is subject to arrest.” She added that multiple arrests are expected since Mayor Baraka’s detention on charges of federal trespass “last night,” and that law enforcement continues to review video evidence to identify additional participants.
Under Title 18, United States Code, Section 111, the physical assault of a federal officer or employee is a criminal offense. If the assault involves bodily injury, the statute provides for fines and imprisonment of up to 20 years. Even without serious injury, assaulting a federal officer carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
Trespass upon restricted federal facilities—such as ICE detention centers—is likewise prohibited. Title 18, Section 1382, makes it unlawful to enter or remain in any restricted building without lawful authority. Conviction can result in fines and imprisonment for up to six months, with increased penalties if the individual willfully injures property or commits further offenses.
