Newark Mayor Ras Baraka released after being arrested while protesting ICE detention facility he vowed to shut down | 9 May 2025 | Newark Mayor and New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka was released Friday night after being collared at the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility that opened Tuesday -- and which he has vowed to shut down. Baraka was released around 7:50 p.m. to cheers from the large crowd of protesters and swath of public officials -- including socialist Big Apple mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. "We know we're right. What we ask for is correct," the 55-year-old said to roars of support from those who had been chanting for his release. Mamdami stood in solidarity with the demonstrators -- and expressed his support for Baraka’s actions.