Incident outside detention center in New Jersey by Congress members 'lawless': US Homeland Security secretary

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Wednesday criticized Congress members who tried to visit a detention center in the state of New Jersey.

"I understand the importance of congressional oversight. What happened on May 9 was not oversight. It was a political stunt that put the safety of our law enforcement officers, our agents, our staff, and our detainees at risk," Noem told a House Homeland Security Committee hearing.

The tension over Delaney Hall, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in New Jersey’s largest city Newark, erupted on May 9 when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested and charged with "trespassing and ignoring multiple warnings."

Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robert Menendez and LaMonica McIver were present at the detention center last Friday to inspect the property.

"This behavior was lawless, and it was beneath this body. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities," Noem said.

Noem said if Congress members had requested a tour, the agency would have "certainly" facilitated it.

"However, even after these members assaulted our federal law enforcement officers, we still provided them with a tour of that facility," she added.

Baraka said on Wednesday that he was invited to Delaney Hall.

According to media reports, several arrests took place after clergy members protested outside Delaney Hall on Monday.