When a freely elected government official enters into a law enforcement facility it is on behalf of the people upset outside that law enforcement office. An I.C.E. facility is not an armed encampment in enemy territory.
Mayor Ras Baraka was completely unarmed without police escort with orders to fire the agents. When he went into a law enforcement facility to deescalate the circumstances with the citizens of Newark he should have been respected for his status and given the opportunity to restore confidence in the people of Newark.
That isn’t what happened.
ICE had no right to treat the Newark Mayor as the enemy. I am confident Mayor Baraka is a citizen of this country. He is also the highest authority in Newark. I will not be surprised if the Newark council votes to have the ICE facility removed from inside the city limits. The council would be within their rights to do so.
I am not an expert on Newark but I did work at UMDNJ for years. At least five if my memory serves. I was a member, shop steward actually, in the union and worked with some of the finest and diverse peers in the healthcare profession including physicians, surgeons, and specialists of all kinds. The state trauma center was 40 percent funded by the State of New Jersey and never once did the police or ICE enter that hospital on the hunt for anyone. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Hospital was considered a haven for well being. We were not a gun and knife club. During the years I was there not one hospital employee was ever injured or attacked.
The idea a government official was unwelcome within a federal facility that directly affected the city is a gross redirection of purpose and authority within the federal government. Homeland Security is carrying out orders based in hate and IT WILL STOP!
ICE in its capacity to find and detain illegal aliens is a guest in any corner of this country without authority to instill fear in citizens. ICE’s operation at any time anywhere in this country should be carried out so well no citizen should know what is happening. That is for many reasons including the FACT that any undocumented human being may be here to save their own lives while seeking asylum. ICE has a duty to this country and it does not include defaming any human being that has rights under the USA Constitution including the undocumented seeking asylum.
The Mayor of Newark and the very fine citizens of that city deserve an explanation and an apology for the wrongful arrest of Mayor Baraka.
Every agent involved should be fully ashamed of their inability to rise above hatred and adequately address the Mayor with respect.
Honestly!
