The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pushed back against New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill after she claimed credit for restoring visitation rights at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark. Sherrill, a Democrat, posted on social media Sunday that visitation would resume, stating that DHS had met her demands. However, a DHS spokesperson told the New York Post that visitation was restored only after state police secured the facility following violent protests, which Sherrill and allies allegedly helped incite.
Background of the protests
Delaney Hall, a privately-run facility, became the epicenter of protests after reports emerged that up to 300 detainees had gone on hunger strike to protest alleged mistreatment and poor conditions. Sherrill, along with Senator Andy Kim and Representative Rob Menendez, attempted to visit the facility on Memorial Day for a routine inspection but were denied entry, sparking mass demonstrations. Over the weekend, protesters clashed with federal authorities, hurling rocks and fighting with agents. Three officers were bitten by a protester, and a cinder block was thrown at an ICE patrol car, shattering its windshield.
DHS's response
The DHS spokesperson emphasized that visitation was suspended due to violent riots, not as a negotiating tactic. 'We did not cave to the governor's demands,' the spokesperson said. 'Visitation was suspended because the violent riots outside the facility made it unsafe for our officers, detainees' families and lawyers to visit. With Delaney Hall secure, ICE operations continue as normal.' The spokesperson added that Sherrill's decision to send state police to quell the chaos allowed the facility to function normally.
Sherrill's actions
In response to the unrest, Sherrill established designated protest zones and checkpoints outside the facility, urging protesters to lower the temperature. She claimed that outsiders were creating the violence, noting that five of six people arrested by state police were from outside New Jersey. 'To the people coming from out of state to create chaos and dangerous situations: you should not be here,' she said. Despite her efforts, additional arrests occurred over the weekend, including one person accused of unlawfully possessing a weapon.
Clashes between rival groups
On Saturday, pro-ICE and anti-ICE demonstrators gathered outside Delaney Hall. Police established separate areas to keep the groups apart, using fencing and barricades. Officers with riot shields guarded entrances, while federal agents and armored vehicles remained nearby. By Sunday, the situation calmed, but Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced a curfew from midnight Sunday, effective from 9pm to 6am, due to escalating violence and weapons found on arrested individuals.
Allegations of mistreatment
DHS rejected claims of mistreatment at Delaney Hall, as did GEO Group, the private operator. The company stated that staff responded to a detainee altercation using approved control measures, complying with federal standards. However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats visited the facility on Sunday and reported witnessing inhumane conditions. 'The conditions of confinement we witnessed firsthand shock the conscience,' they said in a statement, criticizing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement.
