The mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, implemented a nightly curfew early Sunday surrounding Delaney Hall, an immigration detention facility in New Jersey. The curfew is set from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and will remain in effect until further notice.
This decision followed escalating tensions between police and protesters at the site. Images and videos captured clashes where demonstrators confronted barricades, and law enforcement, using riot shields, moved to control the situation. Scenes shared on social media depicted police officers on horseback dispersing groups of protesters.
Demonstrations at Delaney Hall gained prominence earlier this month. Activists reported that detainees initiated a hunger strike to protest substandard living conditions within the facility, which accommodates around 1,000 individuals. These protests have become focal points in the opposition to the federal government’s immigration policies.
On Friday, New Jersey state police took over from federal immigration agents to manage the protests at Delaney Hall.
In a statement released Sunday morning, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill described incidents involving masked protesters. They reportedly attacked barriers in a designated protest area, threw projectiles, used barriers as weapons, and ignited tires on the street. Sherrill emphasized that such actions jeopardized both peaceful protesters and law enforcement personnel.
Governor Sherrill called for calm and urged focus on advocating for improved conditions for detainees, supporting their families, and working towards closing Delaney Hall. Sherrill noted that federal authorities have resumed family visitations at Delaney Hall starting Sunday.
Regarding the resumption of visits, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security clarified, “Visitation was only suspended due to violent riots. With a secure perimeter established, visitations can now continue.”
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