RELEASE: Gottheimer Demands Answers from the Trump Administration on Newark Mayor Baraka’s Arrest & the Private For-Profit Delaney Hall Immigration Jail

NORTH JERSEY — Today, May, 10, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) sent a letter to the Trump Administration — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — demanding answers regarding the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka as he conducted ​​legal oversight within his city of the private, for-profit immigration jail Delaney Hall, as well as the intimidation of members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation. Gottheimer’s letter also requested that the trespass charge against Mayor Baraka be dismissed. 

The Trump Administration is currently utilizing a crowded private prison, Delaney Hall, to jail immigrants. Last year, Gottheimer joined with the entire Democratic New Jersey congressional delegation in opposing the use of Delaney Hall as a private immigration detention center. 

Prior to Mayor Baraka’s release last night, Gottheimer spoke out against the arrest. Find Gottheimer’s statement yesterday here. 

Read Gottheimer’s full letter today here and below:

Dear Attorney General Bondi and Secretary Noem:

I am writing to express my strong opposition to your decision to arrest and charge Mayor Ras Baraka after he joined members of our Congressional delegation as they attempted to conduct legal oversight on the immigrant detention facility in Newark today. This is blatant intimidation and overreach from Department of Homeland Security officials running Delaney Hall. 

Mayor Baraka, and members of our delegation were engaged in protected First Amendment speech and have a responsibility to engage in oversight — a core function of elected office.  As the elected leader of Newark, Mayor Baraka has the right to ensure the facility is properly operating under the municipality’s rules and regulations. Once the officials were let in, the Mayor exited the facility, and agents followed him to illegally place him under arrest and move him to a Customs and Border Protection office. DHS officials claim the Mayor and our delegation were endangering agents and detainees. Oversight and accountability are only dangerous to the facility if there is something you do not want people to see.  

This private prison, Delaney Hall, is operating without the proper permits to hold immigrants. I have long opposed the use of this private facility to jail immigrants, and previously wrote to the Department of Justice sounding the alarm on my concerns regarding the dangerous conditions that persist in privately operated immigration detention centers.  Private, for-profit, crowded prisons create an environment ripe for mistreatment and abuse, without the necessary guardrails that not only endanger those housed at the facility, but also guards and prison staff. 

There is no reason the Mayor should have been arrested. His detainment was based not on law, but rather it appears retaliatory and politically motivated, raising grave concerns about selective enforcement. This is a violation of the law, our political norms, and our Jersey values. I demand an immediate explanation as to why he was arrested, and why members of the delegation on a trip to conduct lawful Congressional duties were harassed. I further request that the trespass charge against Mayor Baraka be dismissed. 

I look forward to your swift response.

Sincerely, 

Josh Gottheimer

MEMBER OF CONGRESS

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