Left: Newark Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka speaks outside the Delaney Hall ICE facility during a protest. Right: Security personnel stand in front of Delaney Hall, a recently reopened immigration detention center, in Newark, N.J., May 7, 2025. (Getty Images | AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
He was one of several public officials, including Democratic Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman, who allegedly rushed past security through the gates of the facility with a group of protesters, according to officials from the Department of Homeland Security.
The U.S. attorney's office has since dismissed the case against Baraka "for the sake of moving forward."
Kenny Gonzalez, executive director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee, told Fox News Digital that "the day that his arrest happened, [Baraka] really did become a hero of New Jersey's Democrat Party."
Baraka’s campaign took full advantage of the moment, even beginning to send fundraising messages to supporters while he was still incarcerated, according to Politico.
Politico reporter Matt Friedman posted a screenshot of a text message from Baraka’s campaign that reads in all caps "RAS BARAKA HAS BEEN ARRESTED" and "Ras was at Delaney Hall today demanding entry into the ICE detention center where Trump and MAGA extremists are illegally detaining people."
The message went on to say, "Ras is ready to do whatever it takes to stop Trump and protect New Jerseyans from his extreme agenda. We need you with us now more than ever. Donate now."
ICE BREAKOUT IN NEW JERSEY SYMPTOM OF DEMOCRATIC ‘CHAOS’ ACROSS THE COUNTRY, LOCAL GOP LEADER SAYS
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)
"I wouldn't be surprised if Mikie Sherrill picks Ras Baraka to be her lieutenant governor candidate," he said.
"He put up a formidable performance, and he's an African-American politician who has very deep ties to many urban communities," he went on. "Mikie Sherrill couldn't even win her own home county. So I think she should probably pick somebody who did."
Gonzalez is optimistic that Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, can flip the New Jersey governorship back red.
"What Ras Baraka did was he failed to fulfill his responsibility as mayor of Newark … he put illegal immigrants over Newark citizens," he said. "There are so many other issues that New Jerseyans face, such as high property taxes, unsafe neighborhoods, a school funding formula that hasn't worked in many years. So I believe that commonsense voters think that Ras Baraka should have focused his campaign a little bit more on that."
US ATTORNEY ALINA HABBA ANNOUNCES REP MCIVER HIT WITH FEDERAL CHARGES OVER NEWARK ICE CLASH
Ras Baraka (Getty)
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On whether Democrats will be able to pull off a win in November, Hagan pointed out that over the last 32 years, New Jersey has been governed for 16 years by a Democrat and 16 years by a Republican.
"So, from a partisan perspective," he said, "Democrats can take nothing for granted in their effort to maintain control of the governor's office."
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-mayor-arrested-trespassing-ice-facility-floated-pick-states-no-2-office