Dem lawmakers level allegations of racism at Cherokee DHS Sec Mullin during heated House immigration hearing

During a tense Homeland Security Committee hearing in the House on Wednesday, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) confronted DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin over alleged inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. Mullin is a member of the Cherokee Nation and the first Native American to serve in his position.

McIver, visibly frustrated, told Mullin: “Secretary Mullin, you talk about racism a lot in today’s hearing. You know what’s racist? It’s the fact that every detainee in Delaney Hall is a person of color. The cruelty runs to the top of DHS," she went on, "weaponizing the immigration system for your president and this administration's racist grievances." Delaney Hall is an immigration enforcement facility in a state with nearly half a million illegal immigrants who are primarily Hispanic.

McIver began the interaction by asking Mullin if he had ever visited Delaney Hall, to which Mullin said no before going on to read an open letter signed by detainees at the Newark-based detention facility. The New Jersey representative read the letter, which detailed alleged unsanitary conditions and inedible food. DHS alleges that the food and conditions are fine and notes that those detained could leave at any time and head back to their home countries. They are detained while waiting for their immigration hearings.

McIver was charged by federal prosecutors last year following a confrontation with law enforcement outside Delaney Hall. McIver accompanied Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other Democratic officials to complain about the existence of the facility and to oppose federal immigration law. Baraka was arrested on a trespassing charge that was later dropped, while federal prosecutors charged McIver of assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement officers, based on video evidence. She faces up to 17 years in prison.

The hearing continued its racial undertones when Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) called Mullin a racist and then told him to shut up when he attempted to defend himself.

"I'm not going to let anybody call me a racist, Chairman," Mullin told Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), who serves as chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Green has a history of outbursts and was ejected from President Trump's primetime addresses to Congress two years in a row. He was defeated in a primary runoff for the 18th Congressional District by freshman Rep. Christian Menefee.

Delaney Hall has become a flashpoint in recent weeks, with Democratic lawmakers and activists criticizing conditions at the facility and calling for its closure.