Newark mayor faces trial after Delaney Hall trespassing arrest
Baraka says Delaney Hall personnel opened the gate for him and allowed him to enter the property.
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The mayor of Newark will stand trial after being arrested at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center last week.
Ras Baraka appeared in federal court this morning on a misdemeanor trespassing charge. He was arrested last Friday after entering the property with members of Congress.
Dozens of supporters gathered outside the courthouse, holding signs for Baraka and immigrant detainees. Groups including the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice and the ACLU joined the rally.
Federal officials accused Baraka and the congressional delegation of trying to storm the gates of the facility. Baraka said Delaney Hall personnel opened the gate and allowed them in, and that they were there to inspect the site.
After court, Baraka addressed the crowd, calling the charge “silly,” “petty,” and “unlawful.”
In court, attorneys discussed the possibility of expediting the trial to this summer. Next the legal teams will have to submit additional discovery this month. The U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed it will proceed to trial, with a tentative date expected for mid-July.
