Protesters clash with ICE agents in Newark
Hunger strike at detention center fuels tensions and protests
Protesters and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents clashed outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark as detainees inside continued a hunger strike to protest facility conditions and seek the release of vulnerable people. Demonstrators gathered at entrances and attempted to block vehicles entering and leaving the complex, forming human chains and makeshift barricades that agents and police moved to dismantle. Video from the scene showed chaotic exchanges as officers used crowd-control measures, including pepper spray and pepper balls, while some witnesses reported use of batons during confrontations.
The hunger and labor strike, now in its fourth day, grew out of detainees’ complaints about food quality, overcrowding, limited access to visitors, and inadequate medical care. Activists and family members joined demonstrations to amplify those allegations, pressing lawmakers and advocates for increased oversight and, in some cases, calls to close the facility. In response, the Department of Homeland Security defended the center’s operations and said agents followed security protocols, charging that some protesters obstructed law enforcement and interfered with detainee transfers.
Police and federal agents maintained a heavy security presence around Delaney Hall as crowds continued to gather, and clashes briefly disrupted operations at the facility. The events highlight ongoing national tensions over immigration enforcement and detention practices, drawing criticism from civil-rights groups and renewed scrutiny from local officials and advocates who say conditions require immediate review. Authorities have not publicly reported major injuries or arrests tied to the clashes, and investigations or internal reviews into the facility’s conditions and the response to the protests may follow as calls for oversight persist.
