Democrat Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) has been indicted on federal charges of forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers when she was outside the Delaney Hall Federal Immigration Facility in Newark, New Jersey on May 9.
According to a press release from the Department of Justice, "McIver forcibly impeded and interfered with federal officers as they attempted to arrest an individual outside the Delaney Hall Federal Immigration Facility in Newark, New Jersey on May 9, 2025."
The DOJ added that she as well as other Democrat representatives who said they were conducting "oversight" of the ICE facility. In addition to her as well as the other lawmakers, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka arrived on the property, and was given multiple warnings that he would be arrested if he did not leave.
"After the Mayor was escorted outside the secured area, law enforcement officers made a second attempt to arrest him. At this time, someone in the crowd yelled 'circle the mayor.' McIver then faced the Mayor and placed her arms around him in an effort to prevent HSI from completing the arrest. During her continued attempts to thwart the arrest, McIver slammed her forearm into the body of one law enforcement officer and also reached out and tried to restrain that officer by forcibly grabbing him. McIver also used each of her forearms to forcibly strike a second officer," the DOJ stated.
McIver responded to the indictment in a statement. “The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation. This indictment is no more justified than the original charges, and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE caused and scare me out of doing the work I was elected to do. But it won’t work—I will not be intimidated. The facts are on our side, I will be entering a plea of not guilty, I’m grateful for the support of my community, and I look forward to my day in court," she said.
“The legal process will expose this prosecution for what it truly is -- political retaliation against a dedicated public servant who refuses to shy away from her oversight responsibilities. We are eager to challenge these allegations head-on in court and fully expect the Congresswoman’s exoneration.”
