New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill ordered a curfew and deployed state police in a half-mile radius around Newark’s Delaney Hall immigration detention center following multiple nights of clashes between protesters and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. [1, 2]
The curfew prohibits access to the area from 9 pm to 6 am until further notice. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced the curfew, saying it is "to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents" in the area surrounding the privately operated, 1,000-bed detention facility. [2, 3]
Clashes escalated after nearly a week of protests triggered by a hunger and work strike by detainees at Delaney Hall, who complained about poor living conditions. Protesters at times attempted to breach police barricades, prompting officers to respond with tear gas during confrontations over the weekend. [2, 3]
Several protesters were arrested by New Jersey State Police after refusing orders to disperse following the curfew’s 9 pm start on Monday night. Authorities said some demonstrators were equipped with helmets, shields, and gas masks. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said, "Their actions put the public at risk" with regard to those who disobeyed repeated dispersal warnings. [3]
Governor Sherrill condemned the violence. "I don’t know why these individuals attacked or what they are trying to do, but I refuse to let these dangerous acts undermine New Jersey’s commitment to public safety," she said. [2]
Before the curfew, security responsibilities had shifted from ICE to the state police, who also established designated protest zones close to the detention center, but clashes persisted. [2]
The curfew remains in effect around Delaney Hall as authorities monitor the situation and maintain enhanced security in response to the recent unrest. [2, 3]
