Rep. LaMonica McIver, a Democrat from New Jersey, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on three criminal counts tied to a confrontation with federal officers outside an ICE detention facility in Newark.
The charges stem from an incident in which McIver and other lawmakers—Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka—visited Delaney Hall, a privately run Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. Their visit coincided with a protest opposing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
Alleged Physical Altercation With ICE Officers
According to the indictment, tensions escalated when a Department of Homeland Security agent told Mayor Baraka he wasn’t authorized to enter a restricted area and attempted to arrest him for trespassing. Prosecutors allege that McIver intervened, shouting “Hell no!” and physically blocking the officer’s efforts.
She is accused of using her forearms to strike two federal officers and attempting to physically restrain one of them. A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey claims McIver “slammed her forearm into one officer” and “forcibly grabbed” him while pushing past and striking another.
Possible 17-Year Prison Sentence
McIver was originally charged via criminal complaint in June. The new federal indictment replaces those charges and includes three felony counts of forcibly interfering with federal law enforcement. If convicted, she faces up to 17 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba stated, “While citizens are free to express their views on public policy, no one is above the law—including members of Congress. Obstructing law enforcement during official duties is a serious offense.”
Mayor Baraka’s trespassing charge from the incident was later dropped. Critics have noted that federal law bars ICE from blocking members of Congress from conducting oversight visits at detention centers.
McIver Denounces Charges as Political Retaliation
Rep. McIver has vowed to fight the charges and maintain her innocence. In a statement posted on X, she said:
“This case is nothing more than a political stunt. I was doing my job, and I’ll prove it. These charges are designed to scare me away from standing up to ICE and holding this administration accountable. I will not back down.”
Her attorney, Paul J. Fishman, echoed that sentiment:
“We’re prepared to confront these allegations in court. We expect Congresswoman McIver will be fully exonerated.”
House Democrats Defend McIver
Top House Democrats rallied behind McIver in a joint statement, calling the charges “a brazen misuse of federal power.”
“An attack on one of us is an attack on the American people. We will respond vigorously at the appropriate time and place,” the statement read.
As McIver prepares to enter a not-guilty plea, her case is expected to become a flashpoint in the broader political fight over immigration policy, congressional oversight, and law enforcement accountability.
