Democrat arrested over ICE clash rips Trump’s lawless thugs
Democratic representative Lamonica McIiver from New Jersey Pleaded not guilty On Wednesday, to federal charges alleging that she had attacked and obstructed immigration agents during a tense surveillance visit to a detention center in her state last month.
“I just left outside the courtyard and I pleaded not guilty – because I’m not guilty, and we are going to fight against it. In the end, it is a political intimidation. The Trump administration and his colleagues or friends or whatever you want to call it armed the federal government.
McIiver, who was elected to a full mandate in November 2024 After winning A special election two months earlier, said that it considered prosecution as a political remuneration aimed at silencing dissent against the immigration policies of President Donald Trump.
“They will not intimidate me. They will not help me do my job, “she said.
The accusations arise from McIver’s visit on May 9 in Delaney Hall, a private immigration and customs installation of 1,000 beds. The complaint – planned by American acting lawyer Alina HabbaA republican and one appointed by Trump – includes three counts: two with a maximum sentence of eight years and one with a sentence going up to a year.
US District Judge Jamel Semper provided for his trial for November 10.
The accusation act is notable – a rare criminal case against a member in an exercise of congress which does not imply corruption or financial crimes. It is also The last point of flash In Trump’s escalation conflict with democrats above his immigration policy.
During the same visit to Delaney Hall, the mayor of Newark Ras Baraka was decree On an intrusion load which was then abandoned. He is now continue Habba, alleging “Malventying prosecution.”
Tensions continue to operate. New York Brad Lander controller was recently decree by federal agents while escorting immigrants from the court, and Senator Alex Padilla California was strengthened of an internal security press conference A few days earlier.
Regarding McIiver, a video published by DHS shows it inside a liaison box chain shortly before the arrest of Baraka outside the fence. In the images, she moves through a door with officers and joins a crowd while singing to surround the mayor.
The scene is chaotic. McIiver is taken in a tight knot of demonstrators and officers in black face coatings. His elbows seem to brush an officer, but the images are not conclusive to know if the contact was deliberate or simply the result of the surrounding agitation.
However, the complaint claims that she “slammed” her forearm in the officer and tried to hold him back. The indictment, which has sparkle Democrats also allege that she wrapped her arms around Baraka to prevent her arrest.
Democratic legislators have described the scandalous accusations, some saying that the accusation is “the intimidation of the congress, intimidation and extreme abuses of power”. They underline the existing law which gives the members of the Congress the explicit law to access the immigration detention centers without notice – a rule codified in a spending bill of 2019.
Mciver echoes that, saying that she had acted completely “in her capacity”.
Whether the accusations prevail or not, the case of Mciver promises to be a political decisive test – one which can reveal how far the Trump administration is willing to punish its criticism and what strength these criticism predict to repel.
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