A Republican has slammed the idea of arresting more Democrats for simply visiting a New Jersey ICE detention center.
“I mean, that’s obviously a very drastic move,” Texas Rep. Michael McCaul told CBS News’ Face the Nation on Sunday. “I would only do that if they were complicit in a crime. I don’t know all the facts here. If they were just visiting a detention center, I’ve done that many times. If they’re disrupting law enforcement, that’s another question.”
The Department of Homeland Security and President Donald Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan have suggested more arrests could occur in relation to an alleged clash at the ICE detention center in Newark on Friday.
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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka visited the center with three fellow Democrats, members of Congress—Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Robert Menendez Jr.—as part of an assessment of the Delaney Hall Detention Center.
Baraka was arrested on suspicion of trespassing, with DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claiming that bodycam footage shows the members of Congress “body-slamming” ICE officials during the visit. Baraka and the lawmakers, including 80-year-old Coleman, strongly deny the allegations.
The DHS released footage showing tense scenes outside the facility as Baraka was detained, while video obtained by Axios captured the Newark mayor, the three lawmakers, and other demonstrators in a heated confrontation with ICE agents.
“You can’t cross that line, you can’t cross the line of impediment,” Homan told Fox News on Saturday. “They can stand out and scream all they want. They can trespass; they’ll be arrested. If they impede, they will be arrested.”
McLaughlin, who also serves as an aide to ICE Barbie Kristi Noem, warned during a recent appearance on CNN’s First of All podcast that “there will likely be more arrests coming,” and the prospect of detaining the three Democratic lawmakers is “definitely on the table.”
When asked for comment, a DHS spokesperson told the Daily Beast: “This is an active investigation.” The spokesperson also reshared a clip the agency posted on social media showing what it claims to be the moment McIver “storms the gate of Delaney Hall Detention Center ASSAULTING an ICE agent.”
McCaul dismissed talk of arresting the House Democrats if they were simply protesting at the ICE facility rather than physically clashing with agents.
“We can peacefully protest in this country,” he said, “but you cannot be complicit with gang violence against our law enforcement. And I think perhaps that’s what it comes down to.”
