New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill deployed the New Jersey State Police to quell unrest outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark after protesters defied orders to relocate to a designated "First Amendment zone." The clashes followed an open letter from detainees alleging physical and psychological torture, denial of medical care, and inadequate food. Sherrill defended the state police presence as necessary to protect public safety, while Newark Mayor Ras Baraka criticized the agency's tactics, calling it "a sword."
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied the detainees' allegations, releasing facility menus that showed detainees receive three meals daily. Meanwhile, former ICE acting director Tom Homan stated that the facility "isn't going anywhere" and that detainees are being held legally. Critics, including Republican Senate candidate Alex Zdan, accused Sherrill of exacerbating the situation by initially allowing limited police presence.
The protests have drawn national attention, with some arrests made, including a 27-year-old accused of threatening ICE personnel. The standoff highlights tensions between local officials, state authorities, and federal immigration enforcement policies.