Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) will face criminal charges for her alleged actions during a confrontation with law enforcement outside a Newark immigration detention center earlier this month.
“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,” acting New Jersey US Attorney Alina Habba announced Monday.
McIver was among several Democratic lawmakers involved in a chaotic scene that unfolded outside the Delaney Hall Detention Center on May 9, which resulted in the arrest of Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for allegedly trespassing on the facility that contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Habba indicated that she gave McIver “every opportunity” to avoid being charged.
“I have 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 unfortunately declined,” Habba said.
“No one is above the law – politicians or otherwise,” the US attorney continued. “It is the job of this office to uphold justice impartially, regardless of who you are.”
“Now we will let the justice system work.”
McIver, who has represented the Garden State’s 10th Congressional District since September 2024, slammed the charges as “purely political” and blamed ICE agents for the confrontation.
“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,” McIver said in a statement.
“The charges against me are purely political — they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” the congresswoman added. “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.”
Democratic New Jersey Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman, who were present with McIver when the scrum at the gates to the detention center took place, have also previously blamed federal law enforcement for the fracas.
Watson Coleman has accused ICE agents of “shoving” her outside the facility, and Menendez Jr. claims immigration officials failed to de-escalate the situation, turning it into a “violent scene.”
Habba, who previously served as President Trump’s personal lawyer, noted in her announcement that the trespass charges against Baraka would be dismissed.
“After extensive consideration, we have agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka’s misdemeanor charge of trespass for the sake of moving forward,” she said.
Habba further revealed that “in the spirit of public interest” she has invited Baraka — the frontrunner in the Garden State’s gubernatorial race — to tour Delaney Hall with her.
“The government has nothing to hide at this facility, and I will personally accompany the mayor so he can see that firsthand,” she said.
“The citizens of New Jersey deserve unified leadership so we can get to work to keep our state safe.”
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