‘Arrested at Delaney Hall’: Documentary on Mayor Ras Baraka for release soon by Newark filmmakers

By Isiah Christie

Although Newark City Mayor Ras Baraka suffered a defeat in his contest for New Jersey’s governorship position, his people still stand with him – and the creative community want that to be known. As a bubbling hotspot for media and upcoming talents, the City is chock-full of creative directors, much to the Mayor’s benefit. A team of such talents are now developing a documentary about one of Baraka’s most pivotal career moments – his arrest at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in May this year.

Baraka’s arrest occurred outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in East Newark, which is where the documentary’s name originates from. He was charged with trespassing, a sensitive charge given the gray area the facility operated under – his claims were that it was opened without permission and negated inspective work, rendering it a potential illegal entity in the city. Baraka’s primary concerns were to deny the presence of an ICE facility in a city known for its hosting and protecting of immigrants, a major focal point of Baraka’s candidacy – his arrest and subsequent release were heavily covered by media and was seen as a sign of heroism within the local atmosphere, and has raised awareness to the treatment of immigrants in North Jersey.

“Arrested at Delaney Hall” aims to highlight this event and its significance. It is directed by Louis Cacchione, an upcoming cinematographer largely known for his presence in the sports industry. He has worked with several significant athletic figures, including all-time great heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson; Hall of Fame basketball player Kevin Garnett, in his podcast “KG CERTIFIED”; and NBA champions Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, on their NAACP Image Award-nominated podcast “All the Smoke”. This Baraka-focused documentary is slated to be among the first of Cacchone’s political releases, and he has spearheaded a team dedicated to describing Baraka’s story.

It is unknown to what degree Baraka is involved in this film, if at all, but it will be an interesting post-occurrence perspective with his campaign settled and months of tension dissipating following the altercation. There are concerns about whether the project will be of authentic intention or rooting in propaganda, but additional perspectives on such a shocking moment will be valued. The documentary has not announced a precise release date, buts tt fraais slated for a Fall 2025 premiere, as described on their official Instagram (@delaneyhalldoc).