Federal officials are pushing back against claims made by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill regarding the restoration of visitation rights at the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Newark. Governor Sherrill announced on Sunday via social media that family visitation would resume, stating that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had “met our demands.”
DHS Contradicts Governor’s Account
However, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security has asserted that visitation was suspended due to violent riots outside the facility, which created an unsafe environment for officers, visitors, and detainees. According to the DHS, visitation was only reinstated after federal authorities successfully brought the unrest under control. “We did not cave to the governor’s demands,” the spokesperson stated. “Visitation was suspended because the violent riots outside the facility made it unsafe for our officers, detainees’ families and lawyers to visit the facility. With Delaney Hall secure, ICE operations continue as normal.” The department reiterated that a secure perimeter has now been established, allowing for the resumption of normal operations, including visitation.
Governor Sherrill had previously urged protesters to “lower the temperature and protest peacefully” to facilitate continued progress for families and detainees, while also aiming to avoid any escalation by ICE that could foster fear and uncertainty.
Facility Becomes Protest Epicenter
The privately-operated Delaney Hall facility has become a focal point for protests against ICE, fueled by reports of up to 300 detainees engaging in a hunger strike to highlight alleged mistreatment and poor living conditions. The situation escalated over the weekend when demonstrators reportedly clashed with federal agents, with incidents including the hurling of rocks and the biting of three officers. A windshield of an ICE patrol car was also reportedly shattered by a thrown cinder block.
In response to the escalating situation, New Jersey State Police deployed tear gas and stun grenades on Friday night to clear protesters from the vicinity of the facility. Governor Sherrill had announced plans to establish designated protest zones and checkpoints outside Delaney Hall, citing safety concerns and suggesting that external actors were contributing to the violence and chaos. “Five of the six people arrested last night by state police were from outside New Jersey, and some national extremist groups have become involved in the protest here today,” Sherrill stated at a briefing on Saturday.
Arrests were made by state police, with charges including disorderly conduct and obstruction. Authorities indicated that several individuals arrested were from out of state, with only one resident of New Jersey among the initial arrests. Further unrest on Saturday night led to three additional arrests, including one for unlawful weapon possession.
Rival Demonstrations and Official Statements
Conflicting demonstrations took place outside Delaney Hall, with pro-immigration activists calling for the facility’s closure due to alleged inhumane conditions, and supporters of ICE advocating for enforcement. Police established separate areas for these groups, utilizing fencing and barricades to maintain separation. During the protests, masked individuals reportedly charged police lines, threw projectiles, and used barriers as weapons.
Video circulating on social media also appeared to show confrontations between anti-ICE demonstrators and individuals associated with the Proud Boys. The presence of federal agents and armored vehicles was noted around the detention center.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced a curfew for the area surrounding the facility due to the escalating situation and the need for increased police intervention. “Multiple individuals have already been arrested and found in possession of weapons, underscoring the seriousness of the threat,” the mayor stated.
The Department of Homeland Security has also cited incidents of assaults, threats, and intimidation against federal officers at Delaney Hall, characterizing it as a “coordinated campaign of violence.” The GEO Group, which operates Delaney Hall, has denied claims of mistreatment, stating that staff responded to a detainee altercation using approved measures that complied with federal standards.
Despite these assertions, a group of House Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New Jersey Representatives Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Josh Gottheimer, visited the detention center on Sunday. They issued a statement describing the conditions as “shocking the conscience” and asserting that “Immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, just and humane.”
