TRENTON, NJ — U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) has been indicted by a grand jury on assault charges after she allegedly “slammed” into and interfered with immigration officers during a confrontation outside of a migrant detention center in Newark, federal prosecutors announced.
Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, announced the indictment Tuesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The indictment stems from a scuffle with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on May 9 at Delaney in Newark when McIver and several local officials tried to access the facility where immigrants were being housed.
During the skirmish, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for allegedly trespassing. The trespassing charges against Baraka were later dropped, but the Newark mayor announced last week he is suing two Trump-appointed officials, including Habba.
Last month, Habba announced McIver was facing two assault charges in connection with the May 9 incident.
The grand jury indictment includes three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials.
McIver issued a statement on X following the grand jury indictment, saying in part:
“The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation. This indictment is no more justified than the original charges, and is an effort by Trump’s administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE caused and scare me out of doing the work I was elected to do. But it won’t work—I will not be intimidated. The facts are on our side, I will be entering a plea of not guilty, I’m grateful for the support of my community, and I look forward to my day in court.”
The complaint says she “slammed” her forearm into an agent then tried to restrain the agent by grabbing him.
According to the indictment, the 38-year-old Congresswoman placed her arms around Baraka to prevent authorities from arrested him, and alleges she “slammed” her forearm into, and grabbed, an ICE agent.
McIver replaced Rep. Donald Payne as Representative of the 10th district after a special election was held in September following Payne’s death. She was elected to a full term in November.
In total, McIver is facing up to 17 years in prison if convicted of all charges. According to Habba, two of the counts of the grand jury indictment carry a maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison, and a third count has a maximum sentence of one year.
More on the charges McIver is facing and the incident outside of the ICE facility.
