Politics
JUST IN: Trump DOJ Officially Charges House Dem For Assaulting ICE Agent
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey has formally filed criminal charges against U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) for allegedly assaulting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside a New Jersey facility.
McIver joined Newark Mayor Ray Baraka, two of her House colleagues and a number of additional activists and lawmakers to “inspect” an ICE facility in New Jersey earlier this month. The situation quickly devolved into chaos when the group stormed past an exterior gate and attempted to gain entry to the building, footage shows.
Amidst the chaos, Baraka was charged with trespassing while other members of the group protested and clashed with immigration agents. Footage from the incident appears to show Rep. McIver repeatedly elbowing and shoving an ICE agent, a claim she has denied despite video evidence.
Days after announcing that charges against McIver would be forthcoming, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba announced Monday that McIver is being formally charged.
“Representative LaMonica McIver assaulted, impeded, and interfered with law enforcement in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a)(1). That conduct cannot and will not be overlooked. Today my office has formally charged Representative McIver with violating that statute,” Habba announced in a press release.
“The charges stem from an incident on May 9, 2025, at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility. I have personally reviewed the evidence, including bodycam footage, firsthand accounts, and witnesses. The facts are clear: Representative McIver assaulted a law enforcement officer and has repeatedly shown a disregard for the rule of law,” the release continued.
“No one—regardless of who you are, your politics, or your station—is above the law. Now let us see if the Justice system will continue to uphold that fundamental truth, regardless of party affiliation.”
In a statement of her own, McIver denied the allegations against her and claimed that she was acting within her official duties as a congresswoman when tussling with federal agents.
“We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short. Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka,” the congresswoman wrote.
“The charges against me are purely political—they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight. This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right. I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court.”
If convicted, McIver could face a maximum penalty of up to eight years in federal prison.
In addition to bringing charges against McIver, Habba announced that the trespassing charges against Mayor Baraka will be dismissed. “In the spirit of public interest, I have invited the mayor to tour Delaney Hall,” Habba wrote in the press release.
“The government has nothing to hide at this facility, and I will personally accompany the mayor so he can see firsthand.”
