As the gubernatorial primary inches closer, some candidates are standing in solidarity with Ras Baraka, a Democratic contender and mayor of Newark, after he was arrested outside of Delaney Hall on Friday night.

Mayor Baraka has since been released and charged with trespassing. He’s been a vocal critic of ICE housing migrants at Delaney Hall despite ongoing legal battles over permits.

Sean Spiller, the former mayor of Montclair and a Democrat running for governor, urged all of the candidates in joining him outside of Delaney Hall on Saturday morning.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer addressed the media along with Spiller. Rep. Mikie Sherrill also stopped by the outside of the detention center later in the day.

"If you’re going to come after one of us, you’re going to come after all of us. That’s why we’re standing here today," said Spiller. "It’s unacceptable and just because you try and silence one of us, you’re not going to silence all of us."

Mayor Baraka stepped beyond the gate of the 1,000-bed facility privately operated by GEO group to join a congressional delegation touring the detention center on Friday. Prior to his release, interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba released a statement:

“He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”

Rep. Gottheimer wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of the Department of Defense Kristi Noem addressing the arrest of Mayor Baraka and the freedom of speech.

"I sent a letter to the United States Attorney General this morning saying you’re dropping those charges right now and you’re going to reverse course here," said Rep. Gottheimer.

The letter goes on to read: "There is no reason the mayor should have been arrested. His detainment was based not on law, but rather it appears retaliatory and politically motivated, raising grave concerns about selective enforcement."

"It’s about standing up for the folks who are inside here right now who don’t have anyone who can take a peek inside, who don’t know who’s being held, who don’t know what the conditions are," said Spiller. "This is just not who we are as a country and we’ve got to speak up for it."

Rep. Mikie Sherrill also spoke out against Mayor Baraka's arrest and the work she has done in the past with Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman to fight private prison facilities. Rep. Coleman was among the congressional delegates touring the facility.

"To see a police force where we couldn’t identify them, they had their badges covered. They didn’t have insignia. They didn’t have names. They had bandanas on, dark glasses. There's no accountability. That should not be happening here in New Jersey," said Rep. Sherrill.

Republican candidates for governor have called Mayor Baraka’s actions a foolish stunt and urged him to focus on the pressing issues of crime, education and ongoing issues at Newark Liberty International Airport.