Protests outside Delaney Hall in Newark intensified Thursday as more than 100 demonstrators clashed with federal agents and unmarked vehicles attempting to enter the privately run immigration detention center. Activists say the facility holds about 900 detainees and reported a hunger strike, a claim DHS disputes. Officials, including Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Sen. Andy Kim, have criticized conditions; DHS says arrests were made after alleged assaults on officers. Massachusetts also issued guidance for institutions on handling encounters with federal immigration authorities.
Tensions Flare at Delaney Hall: Protesters and Federal Agents Clash in Newark
People gather outside Delaney Hall on Thursday in Newark, N.J.(Fox News)
NEWARK, N.J. — Tensions escalated Thursday night outside Delaney Hall, a privately run federal immigration detention center, as anti‑ICE demonstrators and federal agents repeatedly clashed when unmarked vehicles tried to enter the facility.
What Happened
By about 8 p.m., the crowd had swelled to more than 100 people. Confrontations flared when unmarked federal vehicles attempted to move through protesters gathered outside the compound. Witnesses reported at least one man pulled to the pavement and detained within feet of where reporters were observing the scene. An ICE agent on site told reporters he "can't confirm" whether that detention will lead to criminal charges.
Other clashes included protesters linking arms to block entrances, demonstrators thrown to the ground or pushed against vehicles, and reports that a lawmaker may have been struck by pepper‑ball spray during earlier protests. Authorities say roughly six people were arrested on Wednesday amid allegations that some protesters assaulted law enforcement officers.
A crowd gathers outside Delaney Hall during a demonstration Thursday in Newark, N.J.
Officials And Reactions
New Jersey Democrats, including Gov. Mikie Sherrill and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, have criticized conditions at Delaney Hall. Gov. Sherrill and several members of Congress were reportedly denied entry earlier in the week after reports that some detainees had begun a hunger strike; Sherrill has since called for the facility to be closed. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pushed back against claims of a current hunger strike and accused some lawmakers and activists of stoking unrest and interfering with ICE operations.
DHS statement: "We will not allow violent rioters to slow ICE down. Law and order will be restored. There is no hunger strike at Delaney Hall at this time."
Police presence around the facility remained limited during the protests, consistent with Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka’s prior stance against assisting federal immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey unveiled statewide guidance to help schools, child‑care providers, colleges, health‑care facilities and houses of worship prepare for and respond to visits from federal immigration authorities.
Context
Activists say the privately run detention center houses roughly 900 detainees. Demonstrations earlier in the week included human chains, linked arms and road blockages intended to prevent ICE vehicles from entering or leaving the site. Coverage and accounts of the events come from multiple local and national outlets and official statements from DHS and state officials.
Note: Details such as the number of detainees and the existence of a hunger strike are reported by activists but disputed by DHS; arrests and claims of officer assaults were described by DHS citing its enforcement personnel.
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