BIG UPDATE: Democrat Arrested For Assaulting ICE Agent Learns Her Fate...
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) introduced a resolution to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) over her federal indictment for allegedly assaulting and interfering with officers during a visit to an immigration facility.
The resolution also calls for McIver’s removal from the House Homeland Security Committee, citing a potential conflict of interest given the charges she faces. Higgins argued that her continued service on the panel would violate House rules requiring members to “behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.”
McIver was indicted in May on three counts related to a May 9 incident at the Delaney Hall Immigration Facility in Newark. According to the Justice Department, McIver and two other lawmakers were conducting an official oversight visit that overlapped with a protest. When Newark Mayor Ras Baraka entered a secured area, federal agents attempted to arrest him. Prosecutors allege McIver intervened by wrapping her arms around the mayor, striking one officer with her forearm, and grabbing another.
McIver has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on November 10. She has described the charges as political intimidation and accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the Department of Justice against critics.
Higgins delayed introducing the resolution until the start of Congress’s five-week recess to give Democrats time to remove McIver from the committee voluntarily. House Republican rules require indicted members to relinquish all committee assignments, while Democratic rules only require them to step down from leadership positions.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to confrontations between lawmakers and federal immigration enforcement officers. In a separate case, New York State Comptroller Brad Lander, a Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, was arrested after allegedly assaulting an ICE agent while attempting to prevent the arrest of a suspected illegal immigrant. Lander repeatedly demanded that agents produce a judicial warrant.
Legal experts noted that ICE deportation officers typically operate under administrative warrants for civil immigration violations rather than judicial warrants required in criminal cases. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) defended Lander’s actions, stating he was within his legal rights to ask for a warrant.
Separately, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) had a confrontation with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding immigration enforcement and was briefly placed in handcuffs, though he was not arrested or detained.
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The developments have intensified partisan debate over the limits of congressional oversight, the conduct of elected officials during enforcement actions, and the appropriate response to alleged interference with federal officers. McIver has characterized the censure effort as an attempt to shame her for performing oversight duties. The outcome of the resolution and related cases could influence how Congress handles future allegations of misconduct by its members involving federal law enforcement.
