Newark mayor arrested at protest outside privately-run ICE facility, but there's a twist
Newark, New Jersey: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested Friday at a federal immigration detention center he has been protesting and was held in custody for several hours before being released. The Democratic mayor, who is running for governor, has been a vocal opponent of the facility, calling its construction unjust.
Baraka was released shortly after 8pm and emerged from an SUV to cheers from supporters. “The reality is this: I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said, though he declined to discuss details of his case on legal advice. He emphasized unity, stating, “All of us here, every last one of us—I don’t care what background you come from, what nationality, what language you speak—at some point, we have to stop these people from causing division between us.”
The arrest occurred after Baraka attempted to join US Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman in inspecting the 1,000-bed detention center, run by private prison operator Geo Group. According to witnesses, federal officials blocked Baraka’s entry, leading to a heated argument. After returning to the public side of the facility’s gate, Baraka was surrounded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, handcuffed, and taken away in an unmarked car.
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Linda Baraka, the mayor’s wife, accused the federal government of singling him out. “They didn’t arrest anyone else. They didn’t ask anyone else to leave. They wanted to make an example out of the mayor,” she said.
Interim US Attorney Alina Habba stated on social media that Baraka had trespassed and ignored warnings from Homeland Security personnel. However, video footage showed Baraka standing on the public side of the gate when arrested. Activists and lawmakers condemned the arrest, with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin criticizing the detention as an overreach.
The detention center, part of a $1 billion contract with Geo Group, has faced legal challenges from Baraka, who argues it lacks proper permits. DHS maintains the facility is fully authorized.
Who is Ras Barka?
Ras J. Baraka, the 40th Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was elected into office on July 1, 2014. Born April 9, 1970, in Newark, he is the son of poet and activist Amiri Baraka and poet Amina Baraka.
Before becoming mayor, Baraka served on the Newark Municipal Council and was the principal of Central High School. His tenure as mayor has been marked by many achievements, including reducing crime to a 60-year low, replacing over 23,000 lead service lines at no cost to residents, and decreasing homelessness by 57%. Under his mayorship, Newark transitioned from a $90 million deficit to experiencing economic growth.
He is currently running for Governor of New Jersey in the 2025 election.
Baraka is the father of three daughters: Amandla, Assata, and Raisa. In 2019, Baraka married political consultant Linda Jumah. Baraka and Jumah had a son, Jua Nyamekye Imamu Kofi Baraka, in 2019.