A high-stakes House hearing probes Democrat protests at ICE facilities as tensions rise over Trump’s immigration policies.

Partisan Battle Looms Over Immigration Enforcement

The House Judiciary Committee’s oversight subcommittee is preparing for a contentious hearing Tuesday afternoon centered on threats to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The session, scheduled for 2 p.m., comes in the wake of a politically charged protest at the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey, last month that saw Democratic lawmakers clash with ICE officers.

The incident involved three House Democrats and Newark’s progressive mayor, Ras Baraka, who were accused of forcefully entering the detention facility in opposition to President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies. One of the lawmakers, Rep. LaMonica McIver, is now facing an assault charge, which she has dismissed as “purely political.” A related trespassing charge against Mayor Baraka has been dropped.

Van Drew Leads GOP in ICE Defense

The hearing will be led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., who condemned the Delaney Hall incident and framed it as emblematic of broader Democratic resistance to lawful immigration enforcement. “We witnessed protests, led by elected officials, turn violent against ICE officers who were just doing their jobs,” Van Drew said. “These officials are more focused on protecting violent criminals than ensuring the safety of their own communities.”

Van Drew emphasized that the hearing aims to “expose how sanctuary policies and anti-enforcement rhetoric are putting public safety at risk.” He applauded the Trump administration’s “decisive action” on border security and criticized Democrat leaders for allegedly undermining those efforts.

Democrats Push Back, Brace for Political Crossfire

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, serves as the top Democrat on the subcommittee, though her office declined to comment ahead of the hearing. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., however, took a jab at Republican rhetoric, stating, “I assume if they want to do anything to those three members, then I assume they'll get a Trump pardon, right?”

Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said he preferred to review witness testimony before commenting further on the hearing's direction. Meanwhile, GOP members, including Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, plan to press Democrats on what they describe as obstruction of immigration enforcement. “Why in the world are Democrats hell-bent on stopping the president from deporting murderers and rapists and terrorists?” Gill asked. “They're holding up ICE facilities, breaking into them. They've fought us every single step of the way.”

The Delaney Hall confrontation has become a flashpoint in the broader battle over President Trump’s immigration agenda. While Democrats assert their right to inspect federal detention facilities, Republicans accuse them of inciting chaos and undermining federal agents. Both sides have filed accusations of assault and misconduct, further escalating tensions heading into Tuesday’s hearing.

As the hearing unfolds, it is expected to draw national attention, reflecting not only the partisan divide over immigration policy but also broader questions about federal authority, public safety, and the limits of political protest in the Trump era.