The Trump administration is reportedly considering more arrests Democratic members of Congress following a incident at a New Jersey (NJ) ICE) facility on Friday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleges that the lawmakers assaulted federal agents while attempting to force their way into the facility without proper clearance.
According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, the incident—captured on body camera footage—involved members of Congress allegedly pushing, shoving, and even body-slamming ICE officers, including a female agent.
Speaking on CNN Saturday morning, McLaughlin said, “There will likely be more arrests coming,” adding that the investigation is ongoing and that criminal charges for the lawmakers are “definitely on the table.”
DHS Asst. Sec. @TriciaOhio says House Dems who stormed ICE detention facility, allegedly assaulted federal agents will be held accountable:
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 10, 2025
“This is nothing more than political games, and we’re not playing.” pic.twitter.com/XcbfXUSgR3
The three Democratic representatives involved in the confrontation are Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez, and LaMonica McIver, all of New Jersey. In video footage circulated online and aired by multiple outlets, McIver is seen pushing against ICE personnel as she and her colleagues attempted to gain access to the Delaney Hall detention center.
DHS officials say the lawmakers disregarded warnings and broke through security protocols in what they described as a politically motivated stunt. “This wasn’t an official inspection or a coordinated visit,” one senior official said anonymously. “It was a disruption, and it put officers at risk.”
🚨BREAKING: I have obtained exclusive ICE officer body cam footage clearly showing Democrat Rep. LaMonica McIver verbally and physically assaulting federal agents in New Jersey after illegally entering an ICE detention facility.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 10, 2025
In the video you can see indisputable evidence of… pic.twitter.com/msAQBz23oJ
The incident occurred during a protest by Democratic officials who oppose the Trump administration’s expansion of ICE operations at the facility, which was recently reopened to help handle increased immigration enforcement actions. Protesters, including the lawmakers, claimed the facility lacked proper sanitation and safety oversight.
However, in a surprising twist, Rep. Watson Coleman’s office admitted after touring the facility that conditions inside were not as dire as anticipated. “It’s clean, they’re feeding them,” a staff member stated. “We were expecting worse.”
Still, Watson Coleman’s team pushed back hard against DHS’s claims of violence. “Threatening to arrest Members of Congress for exercising their lawful oversight authority is another example of this administration abusing its power,” a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson further argued that body camera footage contradicts DHS’s narrative, asserting that it was ICE agents who initiated physical contact with lawmakers.
LaMonica McIver also issued a statement, saying she was physically handled by ICE personnel in full view of agency leadership, claiming, “Nobody offered an apology or said anything to me about what occurred out here.”
The controversy underscores the deepening divide between the Trump administration and congressional Democrats over immigration enforcement.
With DHS pursuing possible criminal charges, the situation has sparked broader legal and constitutional questions about the limits of congressional oversight and the consequences of civil disobedience by elected officials.
As the investigation continues, it remains unclear whether the Justice Department will move forward with formal charges against the lawmakers—an unprecedented move that could further inflame partisan tensions in an already polarized political environment.