Congresswoman Charged with Assault After ICE Facility Confrontation

The Justice Department has charged Rep. LaMonica McIver with assault stemming from an incident outside an ICE detention facility in New Jersey on May 9, 2025. However, McIver and two other Democratic congresspeople contend they were the ones assaulted. The lawmakers were initially blocked from inspecting the facility, citing their statutory authority to conduct oversight visits. "And we're waiting to speak to a supervisor to let us in here because, as you can see, they will not let us in," stated Rep. McIver in a video recording of the incident. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka joined the lawmakers and was also arrested after refusing to leave. The ensuing confrontation involved several officers and resulted in multiple arrests. McIver described the charges as politically motivated, stating that agents created an "unnecessary and unsafe confrontation" during Baraka's arrest. The Justice Department later dropped trespassing charges against Mayor Baraka. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding ICE detention facilities and the rights of Congress to conduct oversight.