DHS Spokesperson Suggests Possible Arrests of House Democrats Over ICE Facility Clash

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DHS Spokesperson Suggests Possible Arrests of House Democrats Over ICE Facility Clash

 

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stirred controversy after publicly suggesting that House Democrats involved in a recent altercation at a New Jersey Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility could face arrest. Tricia McLaughlin, speaking on CNN Saturday morning, alleged that members of Congress assaulted ICE officers during a confrontation at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark on Friday.

 

“I think that we should let viewers know there will likely be more coming,” McLaughlin said. “We actually have body camera footage of some of these members of Congress assaulting our ICE enforcement officers, including body-slamming a female ICE officer.” Her explosive claim followed a question by CNN’s Victor Blackwell, who had asked if others besides Newark Mayor Ras Baraka were arrested during the protest. Baraka had been charged with trespassing.

 

When pressed on whether members of Congress could be arrested as a result of the incident, McLaughlin replied, “This is an ongoing investigation, and that is definitely on the table.” She added that ICE possessed video evidence to support the claims. Later that day, she posted footage on social media platform X showing chaotic scenes outside the facility. “We will not tolerate assault against our ICE law enforcement agents. By members of Congress or anyone else,” McLaughlin wrote in the post.

 

 

The remarks came after a tense visit by three Democratic lawmakers—Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver—all representing districts in New Jersey. According to their accounts, the purpose of the visit was legitimate congressional oversight. “As Members of Congress, we have a legal right to conduct oversight at any DHS facility without prior notice, as we have already done twice this year,” said Menendez in a statement on Friday. “Throughout every step of this visit, ICE attempted to intimidate everyone involved and impede our ability to conduct oversight. This is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I am shocked and disturbed that something like this happened in our community.”

 

McIver echoed those concerns, stating the lawmakers were treated with “contempt, disrespect, and aggression from ICE.” She went further, accusing the Trump administration of abusing its authority. “From roughing up members of Congress to arresting the mayor of our state’s largest city, there is no version of today that does not show the blatant abuses of power of the Trump administration,” McIver said.

 

The dispute has sparked broader concerns over the treatment of elected officials performing oversight duties and raised questions about the transparency and conduct of immigration enforcement agencies under the Trump administration. While no formal charges have yet been announced against any members of Congress, McLaughlin’s comments suggest that the incident is far from resolved and could escalate further as the investigation unfolds.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NBC News  2025-05-12

 

 

[Pouatchee]

curious to see how the dems are gonna spin this now that the shoe is on the other foot.

 

They wanted trump's head over Jan 6... will they sing another tune now that they assaulted officers?

 

Wait and see...

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

curious to see how the dems are gonna spin this now that the shoe is on the other foot.

 

They wanted trump's head over Jan 6... will they sing another tune now that they assaulted officers?

 

Wait and see...

A bit of false equivalence.

 

 “As Members of Congress, we have a legal right to conduct oversight at any DHS facility without prior notice, as we have already done twice this year,” said Menendez in a statement on Friday. “Throughout every step of this visit, ICE attempted to intimidate everyone involved and impede our ability to conduct oversight. This is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I am shocked and disturbed that something like this happened in our community.”

 

It doesn’t need spinning, it’s self evidently a threat of attack on the political opposition and obstruct their right of oversight of the DHS.

 

 

 

 

[Tug]

What camera footage I haven’t  seen any.if they had it trump would be howling from the rooftops.it’s attempting to intimidate no more no less.

[impulse]

49 minutes ago, Tug said:

What camera footage I haven’t  seen any.if they had it trump would be howling from the rooftops.it’s attempting to intimidate no more no less.

 

It's coming...  I've seen it.  But it's on "unapproved sources".  I'm patient.  The MSM will be shamed into covering it eventually.