In a recent development, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) has expressed concern over the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka by the Department of Homeland Security. The incident occurred at Delaney Hall, where Mayor Baraka was present to participate in a tour of the detention facility alongside a congressional delegation as part of their oversight duties.
Amol Sinha, Executive Director of ACLU-NJ, issued a statement regarding the situation. "The arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka by the Department of Homeland Security is a shameful escalation of the Trump administration’s intimidation campaign against officials who refuse to do their bidding," Sinha stated. He further highlighted that Mayor Baraka and other lawmakers are being targeted for not complying with what he described as ongoing violations of due process by the Trump administration.
Sinha called for immediate action, saying, "Mayor Baraka must be immediately released from custody, and the Trump administration must end its assault on the fundamental rights at the core of our democracy."
The ACLU-NJ's response underscores growing tensions between local officials and federal authorities over issues related to immigration enforcement and civil liberties.
