Rep. McIver Faces Assault Charges After ICE Newark Protest, Former DHS Adviser Calls Visit Political Ambush

Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey is facing assault charges related to a protest at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, which she has condemned as political intimidation. During a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on threats to ICE operations, lawmakers debated current immigration policies and the incident, with Rep. Jeff Van Drew criticizing McIver for disrupting law enforcement and Rep. Jamie Raskin calling the charges an outrage. Former DHS adviser Charles Marino described McIver's visit as a "political ambush" aimed at breaching the detention center housing dangerous immigrants and criticized Democrats for prioritizing politics over public safety. Former ICE Chief of Staff Jason Houser also testified, asserting that current immigration enforcement under the Biden administration is more theater than strategic enforcement. McIver remains defiant, stating she looks forward to her day in court while the debate over immigration enforcement and congressional oversight continues to deepen political divides. The discussion underscores tensions between lawmakers over immigration policy and the handling of ICE operations amid ongoing national security concerns.