Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, has vowed that Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s arrest at an ICE detention facility is just the beginning if Democrat officials continue obstructing federal immigration enforcement operations.
Key Takeaways
- Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for trespassing at Delaney Hall ICE detention facility during a detainee transport operation
- Tom Homan warned more Democrat officials will face arrest if they continue impeding ICE operations or harboring illegal aliens
- Baraka claimed he was advocating for due process, but Homan asserted the detention facility itself exists to ensure due process
- Homan characterized the Democrats’ actions as politically motivated rather than genuinely concerned with constitutional rights
- The confrontation highlights the intensifying conflict between Trump administration immigration policies and Democrat-led resistance
Border Czar Defends Arresting Newark Mayor
Tom Homan has forcefully defended the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility, characterizing the mayor’s actions as reckless and politically motivated. Baraka, along with two other Democrat officials, was arrested after attempting to enter the facility without authorization while ICE officers were transporting illegal alien detainees. The incident quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, resulting in misdemeanor trespassing charges against the mayor.
Homan dismissed Baraka’s claims that the mayor was simply there to ensure due process for detainees, pointing out the inherent contradiction in the mayor’s position. “Well look, he’s not very smart. The bottom line is, that is what this facility is all about. This facility is about due process. This facility is where we put illegal aliens … this is where due process happens. We have to detain them to go through the due process of, sometimes seeing a judge,” said Tom Homan, Trump’s Border Czar.
— Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) May 12, 2025
Warnings of Further Enforcement Against Obstructionists
The Trump administration has made it clear that the Newark mayor’s arrest is not an isolated incident, but rather a precedent for how they intend to handle Democrat officials who attempt to obstruct federal immigration enforcement. Homan issued a stark warning that more arrests could follow if protests continue to impede ICE operations, emphasizing that political opposition will not deter the administration from carrying out its immigration policies.
“They can try to hide all they want with these protests around the facility, but we’re going to continue doing what we’re doing,” said Tom Homan, Trump’s Border Czar.
Homan drew clear lines regarding what constitutes illegal behavior, stating that while protests are permitted, crossing certain boundaries will not be tolerated. He specifically mentioned trespassing and impediment of ICE operations as actions that will result in arrests. This hard-line approach reflects the administration’s determination to enforce immigration laws despite growing resistance from Democrat-led cities and states.
Political Motivations Behind Detention Facility Confrontation
Homan has been explicit in his assessment that the Democrats’ actions at the detention facility were politically motivated rather than genuine concern for detainee welfare. He characterized their behavior as dangerous and irresponsible, especially given that the unauthorized entry occurred while ICE officers were transporting criminal detainees into the facility. The timing of the confrontation raised serious security concerns and endangered both officers and detainees.
“You can’t cross that line of impediment, you can’t cross that line of knowingly harboring, concealing illegal aliens, and you certainly can’t trespass in a facility that’s contracted by the U.S. government to house criminals. That’d be like breaking into a prison, not going through the proper protocols. This creates a huge safety crisis,” said Tom Homan, Trump’s Border Czar.
According to Homan, the Democrats’ true agenda is to prevent the removal of illegal aliens from the country altogether, not to ensure constitutional protections. “This isn’t about due process, this isn’t about constitutional rights, this is about politics. They simply don’t want to see these people removed from the country,” Homan asserted, cutting through the political rhetoric to expose what he sees as the Democrats’ actual objective – obstructing immigration enforcement rather than reforming it.
