Dem Rep. LaMonica McIver Facing Prison After Being Charged Over ICE Facility Clash
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) has been charged in connection with a scuffle involving agents at an ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, earlier this month.
The charges stem from a May 9 incident during a Democratic-led oversight visit to Delaney Hall, raising national attention and political backlash.
Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba wrote in an X post:
“Today, my office has charged Congresswoman McIver with violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a)(1) for assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement,” she said.
McIver and other House Democrats demanded to conduct “oversight” of the ICE detention facility at Delaney Hall on May 9.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was also present during the incident.
ICE body-cam footage reportedly shows a confrontation between the New Jersey Democrats and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents.
Watch:
Baraka was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
However, Habba stated her office agreed to dismiss the charge and personally give him a tour of Delaney Hall in the “spirit of public interest.”
Yet, “the dismissal against the mayor is not the end of this matter,” Habba said.
“Congressional oversight is an important constitutional function and one that I fully support. However, that is not at issue in this case.”
Habba said McIver had been charged because her alleged conduct “cannot be overlooked by the chief federal law enforcement official in the State of New Jersey, and it is my Constitutional obligation to ensure that our federal law enforcement is protected when executing their duties.”
READ: Jeffries Warns Trump Admin: Arresting Democrats Over ICE Clash Crosses a Line
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who previously warned that arresting Democrats would cross a “red line,” condemned the charges as “extreme, morally bankrupt and [lacking] any basis in law or fact,” vowing to “respond vigorously in the days to come at a time, place and manner of our choosing.”
In a statement, McIver responded to the charges with defiance:
“Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall in my district. We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short.
Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka.
The charges against me are purely political — they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight.
This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right. I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court.”
Habba said she “persistently made efforts to address these issues without bringing criminal charges and have given Representative McIver every opportunity to come to a resolution, but she has unfortunately declined.”
She concluded:
“No one is above the law — politicians or otherwise. It is the job of this office to uphold justice impartially, regardless of who you are. Now we will let the justice system work.”
Fox News national correspondent Alexis McAdams reported that McIver is facing several felony charges and possible prison time.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also weighed in:
“After a thorough review of the video footage of Delaney Hall and a full investigation from HSI, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has made the determination to charge Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for assaulting, resisting, and impeding law enforcement officers,” Noem said.
“No one is above the law. If any person, regardless of political party, influence or status, assaults a law enforcement officer as we witnessed Congresswoman McIver do, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“We thank our brave ICE law enforcement officers for their service to this great nation.”
DHS alleged that New Jersey Reps. Bonnie Watson-Coleman and Rob Menendez “stormed the gate and broke into” the Newark facility that day.
Meanwhile, House Republicans have introduced measures to strip Democrats involved in the incident of their committee assignments.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) commented that there “needs to be an appropriate measure taken,” stating the “video doesn’t lie” and that it was “wildly inappropriate for those members to do that, and we’ll have to take appropriate action.”
House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) said:
“Like most Americans, I am so tired of seeing those on the Left constantly get away with their lawless, criminal behavior. I
fully support the Trump administration’s decision to charge Mrs. McIver, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, of all places, for her actions that are clearly documented on video.
I will continue to work with House leadership to ensure we do our part to hold her accountable, as well.
We need to send a clear message to would-be lawbreakers around this country — under this administration, no matter how privileged you are, you will be subject to the rule of law.”
READ: AOC Warns Trump Admin: “We’re Going to Have a Problem” Over Democrat Arrests