Protests erupt at Newark detention center
Police use tear gas as clashes break out
More than 200 protesters clashed with New Jersey State Police outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark as demonstrations over immigration enforcement turned violent. Anti‑ICE and pro‑ICE groups assembled near the facility throughout the day; tensions rose when some demonstrators pushed against metal barricades and attempted to block access routes used by transport vehicles. Police in riot gear deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd and later used mounted officers after some protesters threw rocks and bottles. Protesters also set a street fire outside the facility.
Authorities described the intervention as necessary to maintain security and keep the center’s operations running, while urging those traveling from outside the state to avoid creating chaos. New Jersey’s governor defended the deployment of state police and called for calm. The unrest followed nearly a week of protests at Delaney Hall, where detainees and advocacy groups have alleged poor food quality and inadequate medical care; some detainees are reported to be on hunger strike. Earlier in the week, US Sen. Andy Kim was reportedly pepper sprayed by immigration agents during a demonstration.
Officials said they brought the situation under control with a continued police presence and reported no immediate serious injuries. The Trump administration rejected claims about conditions inside the center and accused some protesters of disorderly conduct and assaults on officers. The events at Delaney Hall reflect broader, ongoing national disputes over immigration enforcement, detention conditions, oversight of privately operated facilities, and protesters’ demands for greater transparency and legal access for detainees.
