NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – The mayor of Newark announced a nighttime curfew around the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility after a series of violent clashes by protestors and police. Mayor Ras Baraka said the curfew will be in place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.
The curfew follows another night of tense standoffs between law enforcement and demonstrators. In aerial and ground footage, protestors can be seen fighting over barricades while police deployed riot shields to push them away. A social media clip shows ICE officers on horseback confronting crowds, demonstrating the escalating hostilities.
Delaney Hall, a 1,000‑bed facility, has become a focal point for opposition against the federal immigration crackdown. Earlier this month, advocates reported that detainees inside had begun a hunger strike over reportedly unsanitary living conditions. Over 6,000 detainees are housed at the facility, many of whom have been held since 2021 when ICE moved from the federal to state control.
New Jersey state police relieved federal immigration agents of duty at Delaney Hall last Friday after days of confrontation. According to an official statement, the state police set up a protest zone outside the facility, allowing protesters to throw projectiles and light tires on fire in the street. Gov. Mikie Sherrill called the actions dangerous to both peaceful protestors and law enforcement and urged calm.
In a Sunday morning statement, Sherrill said the events “put both peaceful protestors and law enforcement in danger.” She urged the public to focus on advocating for better conditions for detainees and the families of those held. Sherrill also said that the federal government has reopened family visits at Delaney Hall starting Sunday, a move that hopes to bring some stability to detainees facing isolation.
The curfew is part of a broader city effort to balance the rights of immigrant detainees with public safety. The mayor has cited concerns about potential violence if the protest zones were not controlled. Meanwhile, the state’s policy shift aims to reduce the environmental burden of detention centers by minimizing the number of SWAT and riot police units on site.
The events at Delaney Hall underscore the complex ethical and humanitarian debate surrounding immigration detention. Local and national agencies are reviewing the living conditions at the 1,000‑bed complex and the surrounding facilities. Residents are urged to stay informed and maintain dialogue with officials to ensure that human rights and public safety are both upheld while the future of the facility remains in discussion.}
The curfew follows another night of tense standoffs between law enforcement and demonstrators. In aerial and ground footage, protestors can be seen fighting over barricades while police deployed riot shields to push them away. A social media clip shows ICE officers on horseback confronting crowds, demonstrating the escalating hostilities.
Delaney Hall, a 1,000‑bed facility, has become a focal point for opposition against the federal immigration crackdown. Earlier this month, advocates reported that detainees inside had begun a hunger strike over reportedly unsanitary living conditions. Over 6,000 detainees are housed at the facility, many of whom have been held since 2021 when ICE moved from the federal to state control.
New Jersey state police relieved federal immigration agents of duty at Delaney Hall last Friday after days of confrontation. According to an official statement, the state police set up a protest zone outside the facility, allowing protesters to throw projectiles and light tires on fire in the street. Gov. Mikie Sherrill called the actions dangerous to both peaceful protestors and law enforcement and urged calm.
In a Sunday morning statement, Sherrill said the events “put both peaceful protestors and law enforcement in danger.” She urged the public to focus on advocating for better conditions for detainees and the families of those held. Sherrill also said that the federal government has reopened family visits at Delaney Hall starting Sunday, a move that hopes to bring some stability to detainees facing isolation.
The curfew is part of a broader city effort to balance the rights of immigrant detainees with public safety. The mayor has cited concerns about potential violence if the protest zones were not controlled. Meanwhile, the state’s policy shift aims to reduce the environmental burden of detention centers by minimizing the number of SWAT and riot police units on site.
The events at Delaney Hall underscore the complex ethical and humanitarian debate surrounding immigration detention. Local and national agencies are reviewing the living conditions at the 1,000‑bed complex and the surrounding facilities. Residents are urged to stay informed and maintain dialogue with officials to ensure that human rights and public safety are both upheld while the future of the facility remains in discussion.}
