On Saturday, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Tricia McLaughlin, suggested that the Trump administration might pursue arrests against House Democrats involved in a controversial incident at a New Jersey ICE detention facility. McLaughlin claimed that body camera footage captured some lawmakers allegedly assaulting ICE officers, including an incident where a female officer was reportedly body-slammed. She indicated that this ongoing investigation might lead to arrests of Congress members, and DHS possesses video evidence from the event.
This follows a visit to the Delaney Hall detention facility by three New Jersey Democrats—Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver—who stated they were attempting to conduct congressional oversight without prior notice. Menendez expressed shock and concern over the alleged aggressive behavior from ICE, indicating that they felt intimidated throughout their visit.
In response to McLaughlin’s assertions, Watson Coleman denied the claims of violence, stating that the allegations were absurd and indicative of DHS’s attempts to justify misconduct. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was also arrested for trespassing, described the accusations as “ridiculous,” questioning the validity of the DHS’s claims and pointing out the impracticality of the allegations against older lawmakers like Watson Coleman.
The situation remains contentious, with calls for accountability from the lawmakers while DHS maintains its position about the altercation, stating they will not tolerate assaults against their officers. The discussion continues, prompting inquiries regarding the handling of the incident both from the DHS and the U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey, which has yet to comment on the matter.
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