Newark imposes overnight curfew around Delaney Hall after another night of clashes
The curfew follows days of escalating tensions outside of the immigration detention facility
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposed an overnight curfew around the Delaney Hall immigration detention center on Sunday after another night of confrontations between protesters and law enforcement outside the facility.
The curfew covers an area within a half-mile of Delaney Hall and will remain in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice, according to a statement issued by Baraka.
“Due to the escalating situation at Delaney Hall and the increasing need for police intervention, immediate action is required to protect public safety,” Baraka said. He added that multiple people had been arrested, and some were found in possession of weapons.
The latest restrictions followed another night of standoffs between demonstrators and police. Videos and photographs posted on social media showed protesters and officers struggling over barricades as police in riot gear used shields to push crowds back. Other footage showed mounted officers moving into crowds as law enforcement attempted to clear roadways near the facility.
New Jersey State Police assumed responsibility for public safety operations around Delaney Hall on Friday after several days of confrontations between protesters and federal immigration agents. Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the move alongside Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, saying the goal was to reduce tensions while protecting both public safety and the right to protest.
State Police also established designated protest areas and traffic checkpoints around the facility.
The protests began after detainees inside the 1,000-bed detention center launched a hunger and work strike, alleging poor living conditions, inadequate medical care, and other concerns. The strike entered its 10th day on Sunday.
The facility, operated by private prison company GEO Group under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has become a flashpoint in New Jersey’s immigration debate.
Tensions have continued to escalate over the past week. Gov. Sherrill was denied entry to the facility during a visit on Monday, and state health inspectors were turned away later in the week despite requests to inspect conditions inside.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and other organizations have criticized the State Police response to demonstrations outside Delaney Hall, arguing that officers used unnecessary force against what the organization described as overwhelmingly peaceful protesters.
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security publicly praised the State Police response, thanking troopers for helping restore order around the facility and maintain access to the detention center.
Sherrill has urged protesters to remain peaceful and said she would not allow escalating tensions to create a pretext for expanded federal immigration enforcement operations in New Jersey.
Protesters continued to gather near the facility throughout the weekend.
Following a suspension of visits due to protests and safety concerns, Department of Homeland Security officials and Sherrill confirmed that family visits to Delaney Hall have been restored.
Krystal Knapp is the founder, executive director, and publisher of The Jersey Vindicator and the founder of Planet Princeton. She has more than two decades of experience reporting in New Jersey, including 10 years at The Trenton Times, where she was the newsroom’s public records and computer-assisted reporting expert. Her work has been recognized by the New Jersey Press Association and the Center for Cooperative Media. You can reach her at Krystal AT jerseyvindicator.org.