New Jersey Congresswoman Indicted for Assaulting ICE Officers in Newark

U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver, a Democrat from New Jersey, was federally indicted on three counts for forcibly impeding and interfering with immigration enforcement officers during a May 9 congressional oversight visit at the ICE detention center in Newark. The charges, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, carry potential prison sentences totaling up to 17 years and stem from McIver's physical confrontation with officers as they attempted to arrest Newark's mayor during a protest. Habba emphasized that while free expression is protected, it must not endanger law enforcement or communities, framing the indictment as a constitutional duty to protect federal officers. McIver and her legal team have denounced the charges as politically motivated retaliation tied to President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. The case has drawn significant attention as one of the rare instances of a sitting member of Congress facing federal criminal charges related to law enforcement interference. President Trump publicly supported the prosecution, stating that law and order would be enforced against such conduct.