The Trump team has issued a stern warning.
Washington, D.C. — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is taking a firm stand after House Democrats were caught on camera clashing with federal officers at an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is now weighing arrests, as officials confirm that Democrat lawmakers attempted to force entry into the facility without authorization — resulting in what DHS called a “criminal incident, not a political visit.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was quick to defend his colleagues, calling any arrest of lawmakers a “red line.” But Noem made it clear: “This wasn’t oversight — this was a felony.”
“They physically attacked our officers,” Noem told Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News. “Then they go on TV and pretend they were the victims. It’s outrageous — and it’s a threat to the rule of law.”
According to DHS officials, several Democrat members of Congress from New Jersey attempted to enter the facility unannounced. When ICE officers denied them access, the situation escalated, leading to a physical altercation. DHS says lawmakers “stormed the gate,” creating chaos and putting officers and detainees at risk.
Bodycam footage shows Newark Mayor Ras Baraka — a Democrat currently running for governor — being arrested for trespassing during the incident. He denies wrongdoing, but the footage tells a different story.
“They weren’t there to help. They were there to create a spectacle,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Members of Congress are not above the law — especially when they’re aiding chaos at a federal facility.”
DHS confirmed that the ICE facility houses detainees charged with serious crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, and illegal weapons possession. Officials say the Democrats never requested a proper tour and instead tried to break in for what many are calling a reckless political stunt.
“What are they trying to do — let violent criminals loose into our communities?” Noem asked. “Are they trying to create more tragedies like Laken Riley or Jocelyn Nungaray?”
Noem also made it clear that any prosecution decisions would fall to the Justice Department, but she emphasized that lawmakers who break the law must be held accountable — just like anyone else.
“The fact that members of Congress shoved, hit, and even body-slammed federal officers — and then claimed they were attacked — it’s a disgrace,” Noem said. “How can Americans trust these people to lead when they’re committing crimes on camera?”
She added that Congress should consider censuring the lawmakers involved, calling their actions “absurd, dangerous, and completely un-American.”
“This isn’t about immigration anymore. It’s about Democrat officials embracing lawlessness, undermining our border security, and turning a blind eye to real threats,” Noem said. “The American people deserve leaders who protect them — not ones who enable criminals.”
