Federal criminal charges are serious, especially when they involve a sitting member of the U.S. Congress: this time, a Democrat Congresswoman is facing serious federal assault charges after allegedly attacking ICE officers during a detention center visit.
Read the tweet further down this post.
Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Alina Habba filed charges claiming Rep LaMonica McIver “slammed” her forearm into agents while interfering with their duties.
The New Jersey representative could spend up to eight years behind bars if convicted.
McIver, a 39-year-old Newark native and Democrat, is being arraigned today, following a May 9 incident at Newark’s Delaney Hall, a privately owned facility used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The confrontation occurred during what McIver described as a routine congressional oversight visit, a right granted to members of Congress under a 2019 appropriations bill.
The indictment alleged that McIver physically assaulted immigration officers while attempting to prevent the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D-NJ), who was detained on trespassing charges that were later dropped.
Federal prosecutors claimed she placed her arms around the mayor and “slammed” her forearm into an agent trying to perform his duties.
McIver faces three serious counts, two of which carry maximum sentences of eight years each and the third of which can be up to one year.
This prosecution is particularly unusual as it targets a sitting member of Congress for charges unrelated to fraud or corruption, raising questions about political motivations.
Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba filed the charges. This connection has fueled claims that the case represents politically motivated prosecution targeting Democrats who oppose Trump’s strong border security policies.
Additionally, video evidence released by the Department of Homeland Security shows McIver in a confrontation with officers, though her supporters dispute whether her actions were intentional.
McIver’s attorney, Paul Fishman, has stated that his client will challenge these allegations “head-on” in court.
Fellow New Jersey Congress members Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez have also publicly disputed the charges, characterizing them as an abuse of power.
The case highlights the ongoing battle between the Trump administration’s enforcement of immigration laws and Democrats, who often interfere with those efforts.
McIver was elected to Congress in a special election following the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. and subsequently won a full term.
Before her congressional service, she was the president of the Newark City Council and worked in the city’s public schools.
At the same time, Newark Mayor Baraka is pursuing a separate lawsuit against U.S. Attorney Habba for malicious prosecution following his arrest at the same facility.
His trespassing charge was dropped, but the legal-political conflict demonstrates the escalating tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local Democrat officials who continue to obstruct border security efforts.
The incident at Delaney Hall raises serious questions about congressional oversight limits and whether such authority gives representatives like McIver the right to interfere with law enforcement officers performing their duties physically.
With her arraignment approaching, this case will test whether members of Congress can be held accountable when their political activism crosses legal boundaries.
🚨 Today my office has charged Congresswoman McIver with violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a)(1) for assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/TV00uwRtKq
— US Attorney Habba (@USAttyHabba) May 19, 2025
