NJ politicians who stormed ICE center wanted ‘15 minutes of fame,' DHS says, as more charges could be coming
The lefty New Jersey politicians who stormed a Newark immigration detention center did it for their '15 minutes of fame,' Homeland Security's spokeswoman railed Monday as the feds weigh criminal charges against them for alleged assault.
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS's assistant secretary for public affairs, called the stunt last week at the Delaney Hall Detention Center by Reps. Robert Menendez Jr., La Monica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka 'beyond the pale.'
'We know that the [Newark mayor], we know these members of Congress want their 15 minutes of fame so desperately, but they're willing to do it at the peril of the safety of our great law enforcement and even the detainees as well,' she said on 'Fox and Friends.'
The pols were among protesters calling for the facility — which houses TKKTKT — to be shut down.
3 Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested by US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents Friday afternoon, outside of the Delaney Hall ICE detention center.
News12 New Jersey
The feds said Baraka, a Democrat running for governor, was arrested and charged with trespassing after entering the center and refusing to leave, despite several warnings.
'These members of Congress, this mayor and these protesters are not above the law,' McLaughlin said.
While Menendez, McIver and Coleman have yet to be charged, McLaughlin said that the investigation into the caught-on-camera fracas is ongoing and their arrests are still on the table.
3 DHS assistant spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the incident is still under investigation.
FOX & Friends
3 Baraka was handcuffed and charged with trespassing.
Amanda Lee / News12
Video provided to Fox News by DHS shows Menendez and McIver in an angry confrontation with ICE agents at a security checkpoint. McIver is seen shouting in the agents' faces and appearing to elbow her way past them to get through the facility gates.
'It sure looks like assault. People should watch that and decide for themselves. There is no place for that, especially members of Congress. It is so beneath them to be treating law enforcement like this,' McLaughlin said.
The Democratic politicians involved have blamed the ICE agents for escalating the situation.
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.
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Boston Globe
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