The story the public was fed by three New Jersey House Democrats about their involvement in the breach of the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility is rapidly collapsing under the weight of video evidence — and their own contradictory words. Reps. LaMonica McIver, Robert Menendez Jr., and Bonnie Watson Coleman appeared on CNN to clear their names, insisting they were peaceful, assaulted, and unjustly accused. But their televised defense only raised more eyebrows — and bodycam footage is doing the rest.
Responding to DHS accusing her of “body slamming” an ICE officer, @RepLaMonica tells @DanaBashCNN, “I honestly do not know how to body slam anyone. There’s no video that supports me body slamming anyone.”@RepMenendez says, “There were a lot of opportunities for DHS, for ICE to… pic.twitter.com/Fhfpq06jHq
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) May 11, 2025
Rep. McIver, in particular, has become the face of the confrontation. On State of the Union with Dana Bash, she declared, “I honestly do not know how to body slam anyone,” rejecting DHS accusations that she physically struck officers while entering the ICE facility. But CNN itself aired footage clearly showing McIver elbowing her way through a federal agent. Whether it fits the wrestling term “body slam” or not, physical contact is undeniable — and the claim that there’s “no video” is simply false.
Worse still, at the 21-second mark in the released clip, McIver appears to strike an agent in the shoulder with a closed fist. Immediately after, another arm — seemingly Menendez’s — reaches for hers in an apparent attempt to calm her down or stop further escalation. That’s not just chaos — that’s contact.
In addition to McIver, this lunatic @RepMenendez pushed ICE agents to physically force his way past the gates.
This is the effort insane Democrat lawmakers will take in an attempt to get violent illegals onto America’s streets.
Menendez doesn’t care about the American victims. pic.twitter.com/r3hJ5AaFPm
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 9, 2025
Rep. Menendez added to the confusion by claiming agents wore “no identification.” But clear labeling — “ICE,” “HSI,” “Police” — is visible on multiple agents in the footage. That alone undercuts his alarmist claim that their experience should “shock all Americans.” If anything, what’s shocking is elected officials pushing falsehoods on national television in defense of unlawful conduct.
Meanwhile, Watson Coleman claimed they were on an “oversight mission.” But oversight doesn’t begin with storming a federal facility unannounced, during a security-critical moment when detainees are being transported. Footage even shows agents trying to protect her as protesters attempted to follow the lawmakers through the gate — the very definition of de-escalation.
Let’s check the tape. https://t.co/1S66cGSxct pic.twitter.com/LqEFhTrnYl
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 11, 2025
Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin offered a blunt rebuttal: “Let’s check the tape.” And the tape doesn’t lie. In a political environment where perception often trumps reality, DHS has come forward with hard evidence — and it shows these lawmakers breaching protocol, engaging in physical altercations, and, in McIver’s case, possibly committing an assault on a federal officer.
McLaughlin confirmed that the department is actively investigating the conduct of all involved lawmakers and that “arrests are definitely on the table.” That’s no longer political theater — that’s a legal warning shot.
