Republican Congressman Suggests Additional Dem Arrests May Follow ICE Incident

Republican Congressman Michael McCaul characterized threats to arrest Democratic lawmakers following the ICE facility incident as “very drastic,” hinting at potential escalation in the immigration enforcement controversy under President Trump’s administration.

Key Takeaways

Democratic lawmakers, including members of Congress, stormed the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey, pursuing a bus of detainees and breaking into the facility.
The ICE facility houses numerous dangerous criminals, including MS-13 gang members, those with INTERPOL Red Notices, and individuals with multiple felony convictions.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) expressed concern about threats to arrest Democratic lawmakers involved in the incident, calling such potential actions “very drastic.”
Claims that ICE officials “shoved” and “manhandled” Democratic representatives were contradicted by footage showing a Democratic lawmaker pushing officials.

Confrontation at ICE Detention Center Escalates Political Tensions

Democratic lawmakers and protesters created a national controversy when they stormed the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey last week. The group, which included members of Congress, pursued a bus containing immigrant detainees and forcibly entered the facility. The Department of Homeland Security later revealed that many of these detainees had been classified as dangerous criminals with serious criminal backgrounds, contradicting claims by protestors that these were merely undocumented immigrants caught in bureaucratic procedures.

In the aftermath of the incident, Rep. LaMonica McIver claimed that ICE officials “shoved” her and “manhandled” Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman during the confrontation. However, footage of the incident appears to contradict these claims, showing McIver pushing officials rather than the other way around. This discrepancy has further inflamed tensions between law enforcement agencies and Democratic representatives involved in the protest.

Republican Response and Warning of Potential Arrests

Texas Republican Congressman Michael McCaul has now weighed in on the situation, expressing concern about threats from the Trump administration to potentially arrest Democratic lawmakers who participated in the ICE facility incident. McCaul described such potential actions as “very drastic,” suggesting that while he disapproves of the Democrats’ actions, he may not support the most severe possible response being discussed within the administration.

The congressman’s cautionary stance reflects the complex political calculations at play as President Trump’s administration seeks to demonstrate a tough stance on immigration enforcement while avoiding actions that could be viewed as overly partisan or legally problematic. McCaul’s comments suggest there may be divisions within Republican ranks about how aggressively to respond to the Democrats’ actions at the detention facility.

New Jersey Democrats blame ICE for confrontation at Newark facilityhttps://t.co/XxcloiTf6f pic.twitter.com/zcS9I9FVK6

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 12, 2025

Dangerous Criminals Among Detainees

DHS officials have highlighted the criminal backgrounds of several detainees housed at the facility, presenting information that severely undermines the protesters’ characterization of those being detained. Among those identified was Chinchilla Caballero, a confirmed MS-13 gang member arrested on April 29. Another detainee, Ramos Marin, is currently wanted in Brazil for homicide and has an active INTERPOL Red Notice, indicating his status as an internationally sought fugitive.

Additional detainees with serious criminal backgrounds include Saravia Santamaria, another MS-13 gang member from El Salvador arrested on May 1; Adonis Estevez Bello, who has multiple felony convictions and gang affiliations; and Maximo Nunez, with various felony arrests on his record. These revelations have strengthened the administration’s position that the facility serves a critical public safety function rather than being primarily focused on immigration enforcement.

Ongoing Partisan Battle Over Immigration Enforcement

The incident at the Delaney Hall Detention Center represents the latest flashpoint in the increasingly heated debate over immigration enforcement under President Trump’s administration. While Republican officials emphasize the importance of maintaining public safety and national security through rigorous detention policies, Democratic lawmakers have positioned themselves as advocates for immigrant rights and have criticized what they view as increasingly aggressive tactics by immigration authorities.

As the controversy continues to unfold, the potential for additional arrests of Democratic lawmakers remains a volatile issue that could further escalate tensions between the parties. The Department of Homeland Security has thus far declined to provide further comments to media outlets regarding their potential next steps or any planned enforcement actions against the lawmakers involved in the incident.