On Saturday, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson suggested that the Trump administration might contemplate arresting House Democrats involved in a contentious visit to a New Jersey ICE detention facility. The spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, claimed they possess body camera footage showing Congress members allegedly assaulting ICE officers, including a female officer being “body-slammed.”
McLaughlin’s comments came after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was charged with trespassing during the incident. When asked if Congress members could also face arrest, she indicated that it was a possibility under ongoing investigation. She emphasized that DHS would not tolerate violence against its officers, posting a video of the incident on social media.
The Congress members—Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver—asserted that they had the legal right to conduct oversight without prior notice. Menendez expressed shock at how ICE officials attempted to hinder their visit, describing it as unprecedented. McIver criticized the agency’s aggression and accused them of showing “contempt and disrespect.”
In rebuttal, Watson Coleman rejected McLaughlin’s allegations, labeling the claim of “body slamming” as absurd and accusing the DHS of lying to distract from their own misconduct. Mayor Baraka also dismissed McLaughlin’s accusations as ridiculous, emphasizing that the Congress members could not have engaged in any violent actions, particularly noting Watson Coleman’s age.
The situation reflects escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers over immigration policies, and both sides are standing firm in their narratives while awaiting further developments. Spokespeople for the lawmakers and the U.S. attorney for New Jersey have yet to comment on the claims.
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