Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, New Jersey, has enacted a curfew in the vicinity of Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center that has become a focal point of controversy amid President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiatives.
The curfew was announced on Sunday morning, coinciding with rising tensions outside the facility, which is managed by private contractor GEO Group under a 15-year agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Curfew Imposed Amid Increasing Tensions
In a statement, Baraka emphasized the necessity for immediate action to safeguard public safety as conditions escalate around Delaney Hall. “The need for police intervention increases,” he noted, referencing recent incidents where several individuals were arrested with weapons, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
Travel Restrictions to Be Enforced
The newly implemented curfew prohibits movement within a 0.8-kilometer radius of the detention center from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (1 p.m. to 10 a.m. Japan time). Additionally, Doremus Street will be closed to both vehicles and pedestrians unless individuals can demonstrate a valid reason for being in the area.
Protests Continue Outside Delaney Hall
Since reopening last year as an immigrant detention facility, Delaney Hall has witnessed numerous clashes between law enforcement and protesters, including confrontations involving Baraka himself. Ongoing protests have taken place for over a week in May, following reports of a hunger strike initiated by detainees.
Detainees have raised serious concerns about their living conditions, reporting expired food, inadequate medical care, and mistreatment from facility staff. Advocates suggest these issues highlight urgent human rights violations.
Discrepancies in Deportation Policies
The Trump administration characterizes illegal immigrants as a criminal threat, defending its mass deportation efforts as a measure to eliminate the “worst of the worst.” However, critics argue that the majority of those detained, approximately 71% according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, have no prior criminal convictions. Furthermore, some who do have records are only charged with minor offenses.
Growing Standoffs Between Protesters and Law Enforcement
In solidarity with the hunger strike, demonstrators formed a human chain outside Delaney Hall, using their bodies to block access. This escalation resulted in tension between the group and police, who resorted to batons and pepper spray to manage the crowd.
Despite calls from Gov. Mikie Sherrill for designated protest areas to prevent further clashes, tensions persist, leading to multiple arrests during a protest on Wednesday night.
Political Tensions Erupt at the Facility
Political figures have not been immune from confrontations at Delaney Hall. A year ago, a protest resulted in Mayor Baraka facing trespassing charges, while U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged with assault following a disagreement over access to the facility. Although Baraka’s charges were later dropped, McIver continues to contest her legal situation, claiming political motivation behind the accusations.
In a recent social media post, McIver expressed her determination to continue advocating for immigrant rights despite facing pushback: “Have they tried to silence me? Yes. Am I withdrawing from speaking up for you? Absolutely not.”
Last week, even Governor Sherrill was denied entry to Delaney Hall, prompting her to call for its closure. At a press conference, she condemned “domestic extremist groups” for escalating tensions and reiterated that existing measures are in place to protect the safety of peaceful protesters.
Sherrill encouraged demonstrators to focus on the plight of detainees and their families rather than letting tensions rise, asserting that state and local interventions could curb ICE’s operations in New Jersey. “We’re not going to give ICE an excuse to expand their operations,” she stated, recognizing the significant turnout of demonstrators advocating for justice for those detained.
