Three House Democrats may soon face the loss of key committee assignments after storming a federal immigration facility in New Jersey earlier this month. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) introduced a formal House resolution on Monday calling for the immediate removal of Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. (D-NJ), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) from their positions on several influential House committees.
The resolution proposes that Watson Coleman be removed from the Appropriations Committee, Menendez from Energy and Commerce, and McIver from both Homeland Security and Small Business. This move follows a heated confrontation at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, a privately operated ICE center holding individuals detained for immigration violations, some of whom, according to DHS, have links to violent gangs like MS-13.
The three lawmakers joined Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and a group of protesters to challenge immigration officials at the facility. DHS reports that the officials and demonstrators stormed the gates during a detainee transport, creating what ICE described as a dangerous and chaotic situation. DHS later confirmed that at least one officer was assaulted during the incident. Video footage released by the agency appears to show McIver, wearing a red blazer, pushing through federal officers. Mayor Baraka was arrested for trespassing during the incident. Republicans have rallied in support of the resolution, citing what they view as a pattern of Democratic disregard for federal law and ICE operations.
In a statement to Fox News, Carter said on Tuesday, “The radical left has lost their minds – they would rather raid an ICE facility to defend criminal illegal immigrants than represent their own constituents.” He called the lawmakers’ actions a direct assault on law enforcement and a shameful display for Congress. “This behavior constitutes an assault on our brave ICE agents and undermines the rule of law. The three members involved in this stunt do not deserve to sit on committees alongside serious lawmakers,” Carter added.
The resolution introduced by Carter would strip Rep. Watson Coleman of her seat on the House Appropriations Committee, remove Rep. Menendez Jr. from the Energy & Commerce Committee, and take Rep. McIver off both the Homeland Security and Small Business Committees.
