New Jersey state police established designated protest zones and vehicle checkpoints outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark on Friday, effectively containing public resistance that had intensified following a detainee hunger strike. Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, stated she deployed state police to restore order, asserting the situation had “grown unsafe, and that’s completely unacceptable.” This action relieved federal immigration enforcement agents who had been clashing with demonstrators for days.
As state police erected protest barriers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, who had formed a line in front of protesters, moved inside the building’s perimeter fence. New Jersey State Police Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz confirmed that ICE officers agreed to stand down, with state police assuming responsibility for managing the perimeter. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, commenting on social media, called the measures a “win for law and order.”
Conditions of Confinement
The protests began one week ago after immigrant advocates reported that detainees inside the 1,000-bed facility launched a hunger strike. The detainees cited poor living conditions, including being fed small portions of often spoiled food and having their varied medical needs ignored. Families and supporters of detainees also reported that their loved ones have been subjected to pepper spray and physical force in retaliation for their hunger strike and the ongoing protests outside.
Delaney Hall, which opened one year ago, has become a focal point of resistance against the state's immigration detention apparatus. Demonstrator Rachel Cohen articulated the structural critique, stating, “It is not helpful to quell protest for the sake of a false peace. There is no peace while we are torturing our neighbors on government dime inside this facility.”
The State's Hand
Demonstrators had been attempting to block people and vehicles from entering and exiting the facility, linking their arms in a human chain and using trash cans, umbrellas, and other items as makeshift shields and barricades. ICE officers, wearing helmets and tactical vests, had used pepper spray and batons to try to disperse the protesters and clear the roadway for vehicles. At least six demonstrators were arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers three days ago, with more arrests occurring on other nights, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche shared images online Friday of bloody wounds and bruises sustained by ICE officers, declaring, “These riots are clearly not ‘peaceful protests’ as you can see from the photos of these horrific wounds. Assault a federal officer, you’ll be held accountable.” State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport emphasized the importance of “de-escalating” the situation, stating that “violence, either against protesters or by protesters, is unacceptable.”
Managing Dissent
Governor Sherrill framed the deployment as an effort to “lower the temperature” and avoid giving ICE a “pretext” to expand operations in the state. She added, “We all need to do everything we can to cool things down now.” Some demonstrators, like Lisa O’Dwyer, expressed acceptance of the designated protest areas, stating, “I like to get my point across and stay safe at the same time.” Pastor Eyesha Marable of Mt. Zion AME Church in Millburn also agreed with the need to “keep the peace,” even while acknowledging “different schools of thought” among protesters. Marable noted the deep anger among protesters whose family members and friends have been taken from their communities, but concluded, “The goal is to get our people free, to get them liberated, and we cannot do that if we’re fighting out here.”
Democratic officials, including Governor Sherrill, attempted to visit detainees four days ago but were denied entry. However, Democratic members of Congress from New York City were able to tour Delaney Hall the day after that, reporting dire conditions within the facility.