Two Dem reps from New Jersey were caught on video “storming” a Newark immigration detention site last week, with one seen elbowing her way past ICE agents in an alleged “bizarre political stunt.”
North Jersey Reps. Robert Menendez, Jr. and LaMonica McIver were among the protesters who turned up demanding the closure of the Delaney Hall Detention Center, which houses criminal illegal migrants with alleged MS-13 gang affiliation and wanted for crimes ranging from rape to murder.
Video provided to Fox News by the Department of Homeland Security shows Menendez and McIver in an angry confrontation with ICE agents at a security checkpoint.
McIver is seen shouting in the agents’ faces and attempting to elbow her way past them to get through the facility gates.
Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of Central Jersey also was among the protesters.
“Members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement shortly after the incident.
“Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation.”
McLaughlin told The Hill after the scuffle that arresting the three reps was “definitely on the table.”
“We actually have body camera footage of some of these members of Congress assaulting our ICE enforcement officers, including body-slamming a female ICE officer, so we will be showing that to viewers very shortly,” McLaughlin said.
Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also took part in the protest and was slapped in cuffs after he trespassed, federal officials said.
Menendez, speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, said the fact that the confrontation escalated was the fault of immigration officials.
“There were so many instances where this could’ve all been de-escalated, but it was squarely in [Homeland Security Investigations], ICE’s court — they chose not to,” Menendez told CNN host Dana Bash. “They made this a violent scene that we were unfortunately all a part of.”
As for Baraka, a gubernatorial candidate, he “committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself,” wrote Alina Habba, the US Attorney for the District of New Jersey, on X on Friday.
“He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody,” Habba posted, adding “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”
Baraka was released Friday night to cheers from a large crowd of protesters and public officials — including socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
In a statement issued Saturday, McIver said she and her fellow reps were subject to “contempt, disrespect and aggression” from ICE, claiming they were victims of “roughing up” by agents as they attempted to “conduct lawful congressional oversight” into the facility.
The group claims Delaney Hall lacked the proper permits to operate, which DHS categorically denies.
Detainees at the facility include Chinchilla Caballero and Saravia Santamaria, illegal migrants with lengthy rap sheets whom DHS says says are active members of the MS-13 street gang.
Also among those locked up at Delaney Hall is Adonis Estevez Bello, 23, a multiple felon and member of the Dominican Republic street gang “Dominicans Don’t Play,” the agency says.