Further arrests may be coming after Democrat lawmakers stormed an ICE facility in New Jersey on Friday, assaulting ICE agents.
On Saturday morning, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said “there will likely be more arrests coming” as a result of the incident, which was captured on camera.
Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver, who all represent constituents in New Jersey, were filmed pushing and berating ICE agents as they attempted to gain access to Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility.
“We actually have body camera footage of these members of Congress assaulting these ICE enforcement officers, including body slamming a female ICE officer,” McLaughlin said.
There is an “ongoing investigation” into the matter, she added, and arresting the members of Congress is “definitely on the table.”
Newark mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on Friday for his part in the publicity stunt, and then released.
Baraka and the members of Congress claimed they arrived at the facility for a scheduled “oversight” visit.
However, in a statement following the incident Friday, the Department of Homeland Security denied any such tour was scheduled and accused the Democrats of attempting to “[storm] the gate” and “[break] into the detention facility.”
“Today, as a bus of detainees was entering the security gate of Delaney Hall Detention Center, a group of protestors, including two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility. Representatives Robert Menendez, Jr. and Bonnie Watson Coleman and multiple protestors are holed up in a guard shack, the first security check point.
“Members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation.”