Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested During Protest • Hollywood Unlocked

Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested During Protest • Hollywood Unlocked


Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested During Protest at ICE Detention Center

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka got cuffed on Friday outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility, and the moment is already shaking things up politically and socially. The arrest happened during an organized protest against the opening of the controversial center—run by private prison company GEO Group—in Newark, New Jersey.

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According to Alina Habba, interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Baraka was taken into custody after refusing to leave the premises. “Mayor Baraka committed trespass and ignored repeated warnings from Homeland Security officers to vacate Delaney Hall,” she posted on X.

Baraka’s Stand Against Detention Center Sparks Tension

Baraka—who’s eyeing the New Jersey Governor’s seat after Gov. Phil Murphy’s term ends—has been vocally opposing the 1,000-bed ICE facility from the jump. He’s called out what he says are shady building permits and licensing issues tied to the GEO Group’s construction of the site.

“This place has no business being open. We can’t allow private companies to profit off locking up human beings—especially in our communities,” Baraka previously told supporters at a rally earlier in the week.

The tension reportedly reached a boiling point when Baraka tried to join a facility tour with three members of Congress—Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman. But Homeland Security said “nah,” and denied his entry.

That’s when things turned up.

Witnesses Describe Heated Exchange Before Arrest

Viri Martinez, an activist with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, told reporters what went down at the gates.

“There was yelling and pushing,” Martinez said. “Then the officers swarmed Baraka. They threw one of the organizers to the ground. They put Baraka in handcuffs and put him in an unmarked car.”

Another protester, who asked not to be named, said the confrontation got even more intense after Baraka was forced back behind the gates with other activists. DHS agents moved in quickly when protesters refused to clear the way for a detainee transport bus.

Department of Homeland Security Pushes Back

In a statement released shortly after the arrest, the Department of Homeland Security disputed witness claims. DHS said the congressional reps hadn’t actually scheduled a tour and that the group—Baraka included—”stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility.”

That statement raised eyebrows, especially among immigrant justice groups who say the incident reflects deeper systemic issues.

“This is bigger than just a protest gone left,” said Yaritza Torres of Freedom for Immigrants NJ. “This shows how far the government will go to protect a system that profits off suffering.”

Baraka’s team has yet to release a detailed statement, but close sources say the mayor is planning to speak out once he’s released and cleared to speak freely.

Ras Baraka’s Political Future After The Arrest

Despite the heat, Baraka’s political stock might’ve just gone up. Some observers say the arrest paints him as a bold leader unafraid to go toe-to-toe with the federal government—especially over immigration policies that disproportionately affect Black and brown families.

“He stood up when it counted. That’s the kind of energy we need in Trenton,” tweeted Councilwoman Asia Smith, referencing the state capital.



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