New Jersey Democrat Mayor arrested after storming ICE prison

The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested Friday at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility where three members of Congress also stormed the facility's gate, demanding they be allowed to conduct an "oversight visit."

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested at the scene for trespassing, authorities said. 

"The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon," Alina Habba, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, wrote on X. "He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW."

A crowd, including several lawmakers, gathered outside the HSI Newark Field Office where Baraka was being held Friday evening. The group chanted, yelled and banged on the gate, calling for Baraka's release.

Several politicians have also joined the growing calls for Baraka to be released.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., described Baraka's arrest as "disturbing, unnecessary and indicative of tactics that are undermining the safety and security of our communities, not adding to it."

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said he was "outraged by the unjust arrest." He noted that he signed a law four years ago that banned private immigration detention centers in the state. ;ast week, the state defended the law before a federal appeals court. 

Democrat Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called Baraka a friend who encouraged him to fight for change in his community. 

"His arrest today is an example of how the federal government's overreach continues to undermine due process afforded by our Constitution," Johnson said in a statement. 

Earlier in the day, Reps. Rob Menendez Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman and LaMonica McIver, all New Jersey Democrats, entered ICE's Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark and were held up inside the first checkpoint, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News.

For the full read, visit Fox News.