Political tensions have escalated in New Jersey after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested at a federal immigration facility earlier this month, just weeks ahead of the state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, as reported by Fox News.

Baraka was charged with trespassing at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility operated by the private GEO Group.

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Baraka’s arrest has drawn both criticism and support from across the political spectrum. Speaking outside a federal courthouse on Thursday, Baraka stated:

“I was the only person arrested. That’s right. You know, I was the only person identified. I was the only person, you know, they put in a cell.”

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Baraka had joined other elected officials and activists at the facility for what they described as a press event. Supporters claim the incident reflects broader civil rights concerns.

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Federal authorities are reviewing the incident, with acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba confirming an investigation is underway. In addition to Baraka, three members of Congress are also facing scrutiny for their involvement.

Demonstrators gathered outside the federal courthouse to back Baraka. Activist Mysonne, co-founder of the group Until Freedom, told Fox News Digital, “The rest of the country should know that we should stand up against fascism.”

The ACLU of New Jersey also weighed in.

“Anybody who cares about government accountability or free speech or the rights of Congress members and mayors to know what’s going on in their communities should be outraged by what happened to Mayor Baraka,” said Executive Director Amol Sinha.

The GEO Group, which operates Delaney Hall, has faced criticism from local officials in Newark, who argue that the facility lacks a valid certificate of occupancy. GEO has disputed that claim, saying they are in compliance with local laws.

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Republicans in the state expressed concern over the mayor’s actions and the broader implications. Jack Ciattarelli, a Trump-endorsed Republican running for governor, said the mayor’s attention should be focused elsewhere.

“Shame on the Democrats, particularly the mayor of Newark,” Ciattarelli said.

“He’s showing up to a detention center where we’re detaining illegals who’ve committed crimes. I don’t understand what it is exactly we’re protesting.”

“When the border is as porous as it was under the Joe Biden administration, we’re all border states,” Ciattarelli continued. “We should not be encouraging illegal immigration with sanctuary cities or us being a sanctuary state.”

In response, Baraka’s campaign pushed back. “The mayor was not trespassing, he was let in by the GEO Group,” said campaign spokesperson Kabir Moss. “He didn’t go there to get arrested, he went to join a press conference with the congress members.”

Moss also defended Baraka’s record as mayor. “When Baraka became Mayor, there were over 100 homicides a year—today, that number is 37,” Moss stated. “Violent crime is at its lowest point since John F. Kennedy was President.”

New Jersey’s gubernatorial primary is set for June 10, with the general election to follow in November. The race to replace outgoing Governor Phil Murphy is expected to be closely watched, with the Cook Political Report rating it as “Lean Democratic.”

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