Menendez & McIver discuss dealing with ICE under Trump, his D.C. police takeover

U.S. Reps. Rob Menendez (D-8) and LaMonica McIver discussed dealing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Donald Trump (R), along with his federal takeover of the Washington, D.C. police at a Jersey City Town Hall.

By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View

“This administration has posed a unique set of challenges from Day 1,” Menendez began.

He continued that they have worked with U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) to address immigration issues and wrote a letter to former President Joe Biden (D) to try to shut down the Elizabeth Detention Center (EDC), a matter that is still in litigation.

“We have the ability to show up at ICE detention centers … and make sure things are. okay. We wanted to see it in real time. It was the only private ICE detention center in New Jersey,” noted McIver.

“The state had passed a law to ban privately run detention centers. The federal government could honor that and close it down. EDC had a historical pattern of terrible conditions. It’s a former warehouse. So, it’s not situated for people to stay in for weeks and months on end. It predates Trump,” Menendez added.

He further stated that the first publicized ICE aid in the Ironbound section of Newark was 48 hours after Trump took office.

“It was a horrible and horrific experience, it scared them to death,” McIver exclaimed, indicating that kids stopped going to school, and business has plunged in the formerly vibrant community.

“It literally like dried up,” McIver declared.

Menendez said Trump campaigned on locking up criminal undocumented immigrants, but he has not kept his word and many without any criminal offenses have been targeted as well.

“They’re waiting in courtrooms to take you and deport you … Students have now been told you have to get out. Schools aren’t even notified,” McIver followed up before discussing the infamous Delaney Hall incident in Newark that led to federal charges against McIver.

“We didn’t know it was opened up until we got notifications from the city. The mayor (Ras Baraka) … was arrested for no apparent reason … We still got the tour. We walked through after they did this and acted crazy. And they offered us a soda,” she recalled.

“Bonnie and I needed a soda,” Menendez joked.

McIver said there were sub-standard conditions that included no medical services, reiterating that the majority of those detained were not being held for violent crimes.

“The position of the Geo Group, which is running the private jail… said city officials are not welcome … but it’s not a federal building. They have to comply with city rules.”

Menendez clarified that the Geo Group was awarded $1 billion to run Delaney Hall.

“We went inside and did our job. We had a right to be there. Four detainees were able to escape from an exterior wall that was made of drywall and a mesh lining,” he noted.

McIver added that a riot broke out because they hadn’t been given food for days, and when they did, it was frozen.

She further stated that the Republican-controlled House then changed the rules so members of Congress must now provide notification seven days before arriving.

“ … It was clearly meant to be an act of intimidation. Who’s safe in Trump’s America?” Menendez asked.

“No one: We’re underneath a constitutional crisis,” McIver asserted.

She continued that 17 million people are going to lose their healthcare, which will cause people to die, all due to policies push by Trump and his political allies.

Menendez noted Congress has cut many food and healthcare programs for the poor. In addition, ICE is now better funded than most national militaries.

“It’s our obligation to highlight the harm that’s being caused: The Republicans had to justify their $880 billion in Medicaid cuts. We need people to stay engaged … The flood the zone strategy is meant to get people to disengage,” he stated.

“Your engagement is crucial. Some of these things are designed to take effect after the (2026 midterm) elections … We gotta keep sounding the alarm,” McIver added.

Menendez noted litigation has been effective at checking the Trump administration, to some extent.

“We’re fighting every single day to keep the guard rails up …The Supreme Court is frankly aiding them,” he said.

“They’re totally oblivious to what is happening with the American people, or they don’t give a damn,” McIver exclaimed.

Menendez was also heavily critical of public statements Trump’s cabinet have made to the public.

“When you hear Kristie Noem of DHS (Department of Homeland Security) saying if you self-deport, that’s bull****!” This administration is all spin, no substance.”

McIver said they could link those looking to help immigrants to specialists, while Menendez said they also want ICE agents to identify themselves and not wear masks to applause.

“We’ve had situations where people are going on Amazon … acting like ICE agents and attacking people,” McIver said.

“They have such a deep fear of President Trump. They have capitulated and given away power,” Menendez declared about Republican colleagues.

To that point, McIver said some Republicans privately told her they’re amazed at what they voted for.

“We’re gonna get through this. I know it’s challenging right now. This can’t be the America we’re raising our kids in… We just have to stay in the fight and we’ll win,” Menendez concluded.

Coincidentally, the Town Hall occurred the day Trump announced a federal takeover of the Washington, D.C. police.

Speaking with HCV, both members of the New Jersey federal delegation were highly critical of the situation.

“I think DC has had the lowest crime rate in 30 years. It’s just the further militarization of this administration, including in blue places like Washington, D.C. Republican have been obsessed with Washington, D.C. and trying to exert control over it. It’s not appropriate and it’s not necessary, it’s a further overreach by this administration,” said Menendez.

“Once again, this is Trump’s behavior, once again doing stuff that he shouldn’t be doing. Crime is down in DC, the data supports that, so him saying that he’s taking over DC, that he’s federalizing the Metro police and sending in the National Guard Trump being Trump: Doing things that he should not be doing and that are clearly wrong,” McIver stated.