Mayor Ras Baraka’s Arrest Ignites Uproar Over Immigration Enforcement and Civil Rights

The arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at the Delaney Hall immigration facility has set off a national firestorm, sparking outrage across social media and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics. Viral footage shows Baraka being restrained and arrested by ICE agents as congressional leaders—including Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman—locked arms in protest and were reportedly “roughed up” while trying to shield him. “We’re going to get democracy back,” Baraka’s campaign strategist Rachel Noerdlinger declared online. Baraka was held for five hours and charged with trespassing. Critics are raising sharp questions about selective enforcement, civil liberties, and the optics of detaining an elected Black mayor. With Baraka now released and support swelling, this moment could reshape conversations around immigration, activism, and who gets to demand accountability from federal power.