New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver pleaded not guilty Wednesday at her arraignment on federal charges of interfering with agents at an immigration detention center in Newark.
McIver, a Democrat whose district includes the controversial Delaney Hall facility, claimed the charges were politically motivated. Acting New Jersey U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, who brought the case, previously worked as President Trump’s personal lawyer during Joe Biden’s term.
“l pleaded not guilty because I am not guilty,” McIver said outside a Newark courthouse after Wednesday’s brief hearing. “They will not intimidate me. They will not stop me from doing my job.”
A trial date has been sent for Nov. 10.
McIver and two other New Jersey representatives visited the Delaney Hall facility on May 9 alongside Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. The congresspeople were there on an official oversight visit and invited Baraka to join them.
Video released by the feds shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people around Baraka. She makes contact with federal agents during the chaotic scene, where multiple people can be seen pushing and shoving near the mayor.
Baraka was arrested at the scene, but charges against him were quickly dropped. Instead, McIver was charged with three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials. Two of the counts carry a sentence of up to eight years in prison. The third is a misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of one year.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement began using the Delaney Hall facility, which is run by a private company, as Trump expanded his crackdown on immigration throughout the country. Conditions at the facility have been widely criticized, and four men broke out earlier this month.
Outside the courthouse, McIver said that anyone who pushes back against the Trump administration could find themselves in a similar position to herself.
Federal authorities have used force with several other Democratic politicians nationwide as they protest ICE and the immigration crackdown. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was hauled out of a Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles, while New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was detained at a Manhattan courthouse.
With News Wire Services
