A Line Has Been Crossed by Trump’s DOJ – Rep. LaMonica McIver Charged After ICE Facility Visit Turns Chaotic | WATCH
Rep. LaMonica McIver Charged in Fallout From ICE Detention Center Visit
*In a move that’s sending shockwaves through Capitol Hill, Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey has been officially charged with “assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement” following a contentious visit to an ICE detention facility in early May. The announcement came Monday from Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, a former Trump attorney now leading several high-profile prosecutions under the Trump administration.
McIver, along with fellow New Jersey Democrats Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rep. Rob Menendez, visited the Delaney Hall ICE facility as part of an oversight mission. But according to Habba, the visit turned unlawful. “No one is above the law — politicians or otherwise,” she said in a statement announcing the charges.
Oversight Visit Escalates Into Political Firestorm
The lawmakers say the visit was routine congressional oversight. But it escalated quickly, reportedly due to the presence of protesters and aggressive responses from federal officers. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was also arrested at the scene and charged with trespassing, though those charges were later dropped.
“After they finally told us to leave, and I told them I was leaving, they came outside the gate and arrested me,” Baraka told MSNBC. “So it looked like it was targeted.” His experience has fueled suspicions that the arrests were politically motivated rather than lawfully necessary.
My statement on the charges filed against me: pic.twitter.com/urxCAt1ZEc
— Rep. LaMonica McIver (@RepLaMonica) May 20, 2025
McIver Denounces Charges as Political Retaliation
Rep. McIver took to X (formerly Twitter) to reject the charges outright. “The charges against me are purely political — they mischaracterize and distort my actions and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight,” she wrote Monday night.
Her co-visitors, Reps. Watson Coleman and Menendez, also released a statement condemning ICE’s behavior during the visit, describing it as “contempt, disrespect, and aggression.” They warned that the Trump administration was weaponizing law enforcement to suppress legitimate congressional activity.
Republicans Call for Punishment, DHS Pushes Back
On Capitol Hill, Republican lawmakers have rallied behind ICE, openly suggesting censure or committee removal for the Democratic lawmakers involved. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went even further in recent testimony, saying the three Democrats “don’t deserve to be in the House.”
The Department of Homeland Security previously hinted that charges could be filed, accusing the lawmakers of assaulting federal officers — an allegation not often seen in legislative oversight disputes. That threat is now a reality for McIver.
Legal Charges Against a Sitting Member — But This One’s Different
While sitting members of Congress have faced criminal charges before, they’ve typically been tied to corruption, bribery, or acts of civil disobedience. McIver’s case is different: she was conducting oversight, a legitimate function of her role as a lawmaker.
BREAKING: Democrat Rep LaMonica McIver will be charged for assaulting an officer
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW pic.twitter.com/u7ULiLtvPx
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 20, 2025
Legal analysts note that charging a lawmaker under these circumstances sets a precedent that could chill future congressional investigations — especially if federal law enforcement can respond with criminal indictments against those seeking transparency.
A Battle Over Power, Oversight, and Free Speech
The incident at Delaney Hall is no longer just a flashpoint — it’s become a political powder keg. For critics of the Trump administration, the charges against McIver represent a blatant misuse of federal power to intimidate elected officials. For Trump allies, it’s a matter of enforcing the law, even when it applies to members of Congress.
With the 2026 midterms approaching and the ICE visit now under national scrutiny, Rep. McIver’s case could shape broader debates over oversight, civil liberties, and executive power in a post-Trump-return America.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested at ICE Detention Center
We Publish Breaking News 24/7. Don’t Miss Out! Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE.
The post A Line Has Been Crossed by Trump’s DOJ – Rep. LaMonica McIver Charged After ICE Facility Visit Turns Chaotic | WATCH appeared first on EURweb.
