In light of the recent federal indictment of Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha has voiced strong criticism against the actions taken by the U.S. Department of Justice. The indictment follows McIver’s congressional oversight visit to Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center located in Newark.
Sinha described the indictment as “an outrageous and unprecedented escalation of the Trump administration’s intimidation campaign against those who refuse to do its bidding.” He emphasized that McIver was performing her duties during the visit, which he considers a fundamental responsibility for members of Congress to ensure accountability within government agencies.
The statement further suggests that this action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to target lawmakers in New Jersey and nationwide who oppose its policies on immigration. Sinha remarked, “With this indictment, it’s clear that the Trump administration is continuing to target lawmakers across New Jersey and the country for refusing to be complicit in its ongoing assault on immigrant communities and the fundamental rights at the core of our democracy.”
He called upon public officials to condemn this indictment immediately and urged members of Congress to use their oversight powers effectively. According to Sinha, such measures are necessary “to provide strong checks and balances on the Trump administration’s shameful intimidation campaign and its cruel mass detention and deportation agenda.”
