U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) was formally indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on felony charges stemming from her efforts to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting Newark Mayor Ras Baraka during a congressional oversight visit in May.
McIver is accused of “forcibly impeding” federal officers, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
The U.S. Department of Justice, led by Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, alleges that McIver physically obstructed agents at Delaney Hall, a privately operated detention facility under federal contract.
“This indictment is no more justified than the original charges, and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability,” McIver said in a statement after the indictment was unsealed. “But it won’t work. I will not be intimidated.”
The charges arise from a chaotic and widely publicized confrontation that took place during what McIver and others described as a routine oversight tour.
ICE claimed Baraka interfered with a live enforcement operation. McIver, along with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) and Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), argued the mayor’s presence was preapproved and part of the delegation.
“We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities,” McIver stated after initial charges were filed. “The charges against me are purely political.”
The indictment comes as the Trump administration has escalated crackdowns on so-called “sanctuary cities,” releasing a disputed list last week that included Newark.
A court date for McIver’s arraignment has not yet been announced.