A Fox News reporter was called a 'Nazi b****' by an anti-ICE protester during continued clashes between left-wing activists and federal law enforcement at a facility in New Jersey. The confrontations at Delaney Hall in Newark have persisted for several days amid a hunger and labor strike by migrants detained inside, prompting several New Jersey politicians to appear alongside the agitators.
Reporter's Confrontation
Fox News reporter Alexis McAdams was on the scene Tuesday when she attempted to engage with one of the demonstrators, who was clearly annoyed with her. McAdams said, 'So the other situation is there's people like this: You are a protester who's been out here and you have a dirty mouth.' The unidentified New Jersey protester replied, 'You're a Nazi b****,' repeating it several times.
McAdams used the confrontation to illustrate the unruly behavior of the crowd in Newark. 'So that's just what we deal with. So just for people that want to know what it's like to cover these protests, it's constant with this. This is what these people do. They want people who are in this country illegally to be released out onto the streets. DHS says that's what they're gonna not be doing,' she said. The protester continued her verbal assault, shouting, 'Nazi b****! Nazi b****! That's what you are!'
Background of Protests
Protesters have hounded Delaney Hall in Newark for days amid a hunger and labor strike launched by hundreds of detainees inside, according to reports. The facility has been a point of controversy during the second Trump administration, with multiple Democratic politicians demanding its closure over concerns of poor conditions. The migrants claim they have been served beans and salad with worms inside, placed in crowded rooms without air conditioning, and have had their immigration cases ignored by federal judges, as reported by the New Jersey Monitor. Some have been there for a year.
Governor Mikie Sherrill and Senator Andy Kim, alongside several members of the state's Democratic-heavy Congressional delegation, showed up at the building on Monday demanding answers. While Kim was allowed inside, shortly after he was hit by pepper balls shot by federal agents at the anti-ICE activists. 'What we saw here is unfortunately just what we see all over the country,' Kim told NJ.com, adding that he had trouble breathing.
Senator Kim's Response
Kim, who earlier Monday said the facility should be shut down 'immediately,' stated that before the melee broke out, he was trying to get agents to stop pointing guns at protesters and broker a truce allowing immigration activists to inspect cars leaving the facility. 'It's sad, it's a sad day,' he added. When contacted by the Daily Mail, Kim spoke in general terms about what he witnessed during his oversight visit. 'I saw chaos inside and outside of the ICE detention center, Delaney Hall, today. Detainees protesting the lack of due process, the disgusting food and poor treatment while their families and advocates stood outside calling for help,' he said.
'Instead of engaging with me and others about the poor conditions, ICE sent in an armored vehicle and a line of armed agents that only poured gasoline on the fire. Civilians were tackled and restrained, and agents fired pepper balls and spray into the crowd. This is more of the same lawlessness we've seen elsewhere around the country.' Kim demanded 'accountability' from the Trump administration and closure of the facility, which he called a 'failure.' 'Delaney Hall is a failure; it's this administration's failure. The only way to make this right for our communities is to shut it down and make sure the failures we've seen never happen again.'
DHS Statement
A DHS spokesman told the Daily Mail that 'no individuals were directly struck by pepper ball projectiles.' They said that rioters were obstructing federal agents from leaving Delaney Hall and had given multiple legal commands to clear the area. When they refused, the DHS claimed officers 'followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property.' The statement added, 'The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly – not rioting. DHS is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters. We remind the public that rioting is dangerous - obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony.'
Governor Sherrill's Reaction
A spokesman for Governor Sherrill told the Daily Mail that she spoke to Kim earlier Monday evening and criticized the treatment by federal agents. 'He is a sitting US Senator with a right to oversight of this federal facility, and he should be able to freely access it without being harmed,' Steve Sigmund said. Earlier in the day, Sherrill expressed outrage at being denied entry to the facility. Sherrill, who has also demanded that the facility be closed, said that Homeland Security's denial of access suggests they are hiding something.
