WASHINGTON (TNND) — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has attributed the recent violent incident during a protest at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark to individuals from outside the state.
During a Saturday press briefing, Sherrill revealed that five of the six individuals taken into custody during the altercation outside Delaney Hall on Friday night were not residents of New Jersey, according to Gothamist. The New Jersey State Police confirmed that these five men hailed from New York and Pennsylvania.
Sherrill Criticizes Out-of-State Protesters
Sherrill condemned the actions of these out-of-state individuals, stating, “To those who came from out of state to create a chaotic and dangerous situation, they should not be here. You’re not helping the people detained at Delaney Hall, you’re not assisting their families, and you’re certainly not keeping New Jersey safe.”
On Friday, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport noted in a social media post that state police had temporarily cleared the area surrounding Delaney Hall to safeguard all involved, including the predominantly peaceful demonstrators.
On Saturday morning, various groups both opposing and supporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gathered near Delaney Hall. Barricades were eventually erected to prevent them from reaching the vicinity of Doremus Avenue closest to the detention center. State police, along with local law enforcement, formed a line with shields along the barricades to maintain order.
Sherrill clarified that the state police’s presence was designed to de-escalate tensions following a series of protests that had led to over a dozen arrests. The Justice Department announced that a man was arrested for allegedly kicking a federal officer and biting two others during the unrest.
Protesters have been demonstrating outside Delaney Hall for more than a week, often clashing with ICE officers and attempting to block vehicles transporting detainees amidst ongoing hunger and labor strikes.
Advocates for immigrants, along with detainees, have raised concerns about the conditions within the facility, including allegations of unsanitary food, substandard facilities, and inadequate access to medical care and legal assistance.
In response, both the Department of Homeland Security and Geo Group, the private contractor managing Delaney Hall, have consistently denied these claims. ICE has stated on social media that all detainees receive three meals a day, clean water, and necessary hygiene items, asserting that its detention standards surpass those of many U.S. prisons.
Sherrill emphasized the necessity for the New Jersey State Police to intervene, citing the presence of ICE agents in the Delaney Hall area as a potential threat to public safety. “The proliferation of ICE agents poses a risk to lives, and I am not willing to accept that risk,” she asserted.
“That is why the New Jersey State Police Public Safety Response Team took action last night to secure the area outside Delaney Hall. Public safety is paramount, and we must prevent any escalation from ICE,” Sherrill remarked. She reaffirmed the right to protest, stating that her administration is committed to upholding the First Amendment rights of New Jersey residents. Lastly, Sherrill urged demonstrators to maintain a peaceful approach and focus on advocating for improved conditions for detainees and their families, ultimately calling for the closure of Delaney Hall.
