In an era marked by deep political divisions, it's rare to find common ground between progressive urban leaders and conservative commentators.
But something has managed to bring together voices that rarely echo the same alarm. Because regardless of partisanship, the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka by federal authorities has concerned most every American.
Mayor Baraka accompanied members of Congress on an oversight visit to Delaney Hall. The ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention facility is being operated by GEO Group under contract with ICE. Apparently, they are holding people there, suspected of immigration-related crimes, without a local permit. Worse, corporations like them profit from the incarceration of people, and have a long track record of abuse and mismanagement.
Thus, our local and congressional elected officials sought lawful entrance to inspect, exercising their clear constitutional right and obligation to conduct oversight. Mayor Baraka, according to eyewitnesses, and videos we can all see, was invited onto the premises. He complied fully when abruptly asked to leave. And yet, he was then arrested and detained for several hours on charges of trespassing. These charges have since been dropped, because they were completely and totally bogus.
Now, they are charging U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-10, with assault, after her attempt to do her job, too.
But what’s truly remarkable is who is joining the alarm. Jersey Conservative, a right-wing newsletter that typically has little in common with Baraka’s politics, called the issue: “lawfare” — the abuse of legal institutions as a political weapon. Furthermore, their editorial illuminates the core constitutional conflict. They mention the insanity of partisan bureaucrats like our acting Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba, who is un-elected and unconfirmed, with her masked agents, blocking oversight from members of Congress.
Think about it. Citing Article I of the U.S. Constitution, Jersey Conservative reminded readers that Congress holds the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution… all other powers vested by this Constitution.” This includes the power to oversee federal facilities. Arresting a mayor for assisting in that process, and shoving local members of Congress, is not just bizarre — it’s a direct affront to checks and balances over abuse of power, principles at the foundation of our country.
Moderate Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, D-11 — hardly a radical — echoed this concern with striking clarity. Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor, condemned the arrest as “absolutely unacceptable,” warning that “these are the hallmarks of a secret police… acting in service to a political agenda, rather than the rule of law.”
-Guy Citron