Democratic Lawmaker Faces Up to 17 Years in Prison Over Federal Case Tied to ICE Clash

The Incident and Its Aftermath

On May 9, 2025, McIver arrived at the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark with fellow Democrats to conduct what they characterized as an unscheduled congressional inspection — a form of oversight that members of Congress are legally empowered to carry out to monitor federal agencies.

Federal prosecutors say a confrontation erupted when federal agents attempted to arrest Mayor Baraka outside the secured area.

According to charging documents, McIver then “forcibly impeded and interfered” with officers and made physical contact with at least two law enforcement personnel.

The indictment lists three counts under federal assault statutes, including allegations that she “slammed” her forearm into an agent and pushed past another officer using her forearms to strike him.

If convicted, McIver faces up to 17 years in prison — eight years for each of the primary counts and an additional year for a third count.

Mayor Baraka himself was briefly taken into custody on a misdemeanor trespassing charge, but that charge was later dropped by prosecutors.

Baraka and other local officials swiftly denounced the arrest as unwarranted and excessive.

At her arraignment, McIver pleaded not guilty to all charges, signaling her intent to dispute the government’s allegations vigorously.

Her legal team has rejected suggestions that she acted unlawfully and insists her actions were part of her duty to oversee immigration enforcement practices.

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