The White House has accused Democratic lawmakers of “outright breaking the law” after three New Jersey Congress members allegedly stormed a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Newark on Friday.White House spokesperson Kush Desai was quoted by Fox News Digital, “As always, Democrats are prioritising the welfare of illegal aliens over American citizens, except now they’re crossing the line between meaningless political street theatre and outright breaking the law.”According to the department of homeland security (DHS), Reps Rob Menendez Jr, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIver rushed through the gates of the Delaney Hall detention facility when they opened to allow an ICE bus inside. The lawmakers were joined by protesters and entered the premises without permission, only to be stopped at the facility’s first checkpoint.“This kind of behaviour is dangerous and illegal,” DHS said in a statement, as per Fox News. “Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility.”The lawmakers have defended their actions, stating they were there for an oversight visit. McIver claimed that ICE officers assaulted all three of them, while Coleman insisted, “We did not ‘storm’ the detention center. We were exercising our oversight authority.” Menendez accused ICE of intimidation, saying, “They feel no restraint… That was shown in broad daylight today when they not just arrested the mayor of Newark but put their hands on two members of Congress.”ICE and DHS have pushed back, stating that the facility is in full compliance with permits and legal standards. The controversy comes as activists and Newark officials raise concerns about the private prison operator GEO Group, which now runs Delaney Hall. A lawsuit filed on April 1 by the City of Newark alleges the facility violated local construction codes and blocked safety inspections, a claim DHS denies.Mayor Ras Baraka, who had joined the protest outside the facility, was arrested for trespassing but released later that evening. “The reality is this: I didn’t do anything wrong,” Baraka said following his release. His arrest drew criticism from Democrats, including Gov Phil Murphy and Sen Cory Booker, while Republicans dismissed it as a political stunt.
