American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey Executive Director Amol Sinha, in a statement sent to Newsweek via email on Friday: "The arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka by the Department of Homeland Security is a shameful escalation of the Trump administration's intimidation campaign against officials who refuse to do their bidding."

Ras Baraka, who was released from custody Friday night, is one of six major Democratic candidates competing in the gubernatorial primary on June 10.

Members of Congress were visiting the detention facility as part of congressional oversight. Baraka was with U.S. Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver and Rob Menendez, all Democrats from New Jersey.