Alina Habba, interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey and former Trump lawyer, announced on social media that Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver has been charged in a May 9 scuffle at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center.
The charges prompted Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell of California to warn that the Trump administration “has crossed a red line.”
Newsweek reached out to Habba’s office via email for additional comment on Monday.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has prioritized illegal immigration as a key pillar during his second term in office. His administration’s push for mass deportations, however, have been getting held up in courts nationwide.
Within the first 100 days of his second term, the president invoked the Alien Enemies Act, granting him authority to deport and detain noncitizens. The implementation was originally blocked in court.
Recently, deportations involving families and children have come back into question, as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended its practices, saying in part that “rather than separate their families, ICE asked the mothers if they wanted to be removed with their children or if they wanted ICE to place the children with someone safe the parent designates.”
What To Know
Ten days ago, Newark Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka and three local Democratic members of Congress, including McIver, were seen outside Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center, urging federal officials to allow them inside to observe conditions.
Baraka accused the operator of Delaney—Geo Group—of inspection violations and breaking city law, while Habba accused Baraka of committing trespass and ignoring multiple warnings from DHS. He was then taken into custody after the confrontation.
Baraka’s charges were dismissed on Monday, and in a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said that he was “glad,” but also noted McIver’s new legal problem. Baraka said that he stands with McIver, adding that he fully expects her to be “vindicated.”
Meanwhile, in a post to X on Monday, Swalwell ripped Habba and the Trump administration: “A RED LINE has been crossed. Trump is prosecuting his political enemies in Congress.”
Swalwell continued, “This is just the beginning. We must take whatever we’ve done before to show dissent and go ONE RUNG HIGHER. And save your bull**** documents on this, Alina. You’ll need them when you testify.”
Habba said that McIver has been charged with assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the charges were announced after a “thorough review of the video footage of Delaney Hall and a full investigation from HSI [Homeland Security Investigations], the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has made the determination to charge Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for assaulting, resisting, and impeding law enforcement officers.”
McIver reacted to the charges Monday night, calling them “purely political.”
McIver continued in part, saying, “They mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight. This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right. I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court.”
This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
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