Delaney Hall protests: Curfew enacted after clashes; DHS restores family visitation
Delaney Hall protests: Curfew enacted after clashes; DHS restores family visitation
Following violent clashes, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka implemented an immediate, nightly curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. covering a half-mile radius around Delaney Hall.
NEWARK, N.J. - State and local officials announced a breakthrough in conditions at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center on Sunday, confirming that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has agreed to restore family visitation effective immediately.
The announcement comes amid soaring tensions and a newly enforced nightly curfew following a violent clash between agitators and law enforcement outside the facility.
What we know:
Officials say officers from the Newark Police Department and the New Jersey State Police were forced to disperse crowds following "aggressive actions" by a group of protestors.
According to statements from Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a group of masked individuals breached designated protest zones, attacking police barricades and endangering both law enforcement and peaceful demonstrators.
FULL PRESSER: Gov. Sherrill provides update on Delaney Hall protests
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, alongside other state officials, provide an update on the protests at Delaney Hall.
‘Dangerous actions’
What they're saying:
Officials report that the agitators charged at law enforcement, threw projectiles, utilized barriers as weapons and set tires on fire in the street. The violent turn reportedly required immediate action from police.
Mayor Baraka confirmed that multiple individuals have been arrested and found in possession of weapons during the protests with three people taken into custody on Saturday.
"I do not know why these individuals attacked or what they wanted to accomplish, but I refuse to let these dangerous actions detract from New Jersey’s dedication to ensuring public safety, keeping people safe from ICE, and that the people detained inside Delaney Hall are treated with dignity," Gov. Sherrill stated.
"For well over a year, there have been constant protests in front of Delaney Hall, with people from all over the state coming together to voice their concerns and to try to shut it down," Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement, adding, "During one of those protests, I was arrested and charged."
Barka also pointed to ongoing legal conflict involving federal immigration authorities, saying, "ICE can abuse its authority," while reaffirming the city’s position that "Newark remains committed to our immigrant residents."
"The use of riot gear, flash bangs, tear gas and similar tactics against lawfully assembled protesters is wrong and clearly untenable," he added. "It is also imperative that this behavior not be replicated by state or local police."
Delaney Hall protests: 5 of 6 arrested Friday were 'outside agitators,' Sherril says
Six protesters were arrested outside Delaney Hall overnight, officials said, including five "outside agitators" from out of state.
Curfew restrictions
Local perspective:
On Sunday, Mayor Baraka announced a mandatory curfew for the immediate vicinity of Delaney Hall to "protect public safety."
- Time: Nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.
- Zone: A half-mile radius surrounding Delaney Hall.
- Road closures: Beginning at midnight, Doremus Avenue is closed to all pedestrian traffic.
- Vehicle Access: Strictly limited to vehicles with verified official business in the area.
Violators will initially be warned to leave the area, but continued non-compliance will result in removal, summonses, and potential further legal action.
'Delaney Hall should be closed down': Gov. Sherrill says NJ Dept. of Health 'denied full access'
Gov. Mikie Sherrill is calling for Delaney Hall to be "closed down" amidst days of sustained protests.
Delaney Hall protests
The backstory:
Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, has been the site of days of protests over the reported treatment of detainees and the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the community.
Despite the violence, officials praised the protesters who demonstrated peacefully to "shine a light on the troubling conditions" at the facility. Attorney General Davenport emphasized the state's commitment to working with the administration to ensure detainees are treated with humanity and decency.
Anti-ICE protests continue outside Newark's Delaney Hall
Protests and counter-protests continue outside the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. State police drew demonstrators away from the building Friday night, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said, to avoid a conflict with ICE agents.
Gov. Sherrill emphasized the administration's broader goals, stating, "We must focus on advocating for better conditions for the detainees, for their families, and ultimately, for the closure of Delaney Hall, as well as to protect the many peaceful protestors who continue to make this their mission. We simply cannot let ICE surge into our community."
What's next:
Authorities stated they will evaluate the perimeter daily with the goal of safely re-establishing designated zones for peaceful First Amendment assembly as soon as possible.
Beginning Sunday, state and local law enforcement will also assist in safely escorting family members into the facility for visitation.
The Source: Information from this article was sourced from statements by Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, along with a press conference held by officials on Sunday.