Partisan sparks are expected to fly on Tuesday as lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee face off over President Donald Trump’s strict crackdown on illegal immigration. The panel’s subcommittee on oversight is holding a hearing Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. on threats to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The tensions stem from the incident at Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey, last month when three House Democrats and the city’s progressive mayor were accused of “storming” the facility in a protest against Trump’s handling of illegal immigrants.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett is the top Democrat on Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s oversight subcommittee on the House Judiciary panel. One of the Democratic lawmakers involved in the incident, Rep. LaMonica McIver, is facing assault charges, while a trespassing charge against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is being dropped. McIver has dismissed the charge as “purely political.” The hearing on Tuesday will be chaired by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., who represents the southernmost portion of the Garden State. Van Drew criticized Democrat leaders for obstructing efforts to address the immigration crisis and highlighted the violent protests against ICE officers in New Jersey.
The top Democrat on the subcommittee, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, did not respond to a request for comment on the hearing. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., indicated his readiness to defend the Democratic officials involved in the Delaney Hall incident. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., expressed the need to review witness testimony before commenting on the issue. On the Republican side, Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, questioned the Democrats’ motives in opposing the president’s deportation efforts. Gill emphasized the importance of holding the Democrats accountable for their actions regarding ICE facilities. Both sides have engaged in a back-and-forth, accusing each other of assault and misconduct during the incident at Delaney Hall. Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, is leading the coverage of the House of Representatives. She has previous bylines at Daily Mail and CBS News, showcasing her expertise in political reporting.
