Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin welcomed the governor’s move to deploy state police to restore order outside the Delaney Hall.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said on May 29 that state law enforcement has set up a protest zone outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center amid ongoing protests in the area.
Speaking at a press conference, Sherrill said she had sent state police to restore order outside the facility and established a designated protest zone to ensure public safety, as the situation there had “grown unsafe.”
“I will not give [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] the pretext to expand operations in our state,” the governor told reporters. “Our top priority is public safety, and we need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature now.”
Sherrill said her office will work with community members, advocates, and state police to direct people to the protected zone.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin welcomed the move, calling it “a win for law and order,” as he noted that the governor had previously declined to allow state police to cooperate with federal agents.
“After days of [Sherrill] REFUSING to allow State Police to assist [ICE] law enforcement against violent anti-ICE rioters, she is now allowing the New Jersey State Police to cooperate with us. Thank you, Governor,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Assaulting and obstructing ICE law enforcement is a crime and felony. Anyone who assaults federal law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This violence against law enforcement must end.”
Protests outside Delaney Hall in Newark have continued for days as immigration activists and Democratic lawmakers call for greater transparency over how detainees are being treated inside the facility. Tensions escalated on May 25 as protesters clashed with ICE agents.
At least six protesters were arrested on May 27 for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers, and further arrests were made over the following days, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche shared photos on social media on May 29 showing injuries sustained by ICE officers that were allegedly caused by a rioter during a protest outside Delaney Hall.
“We will not tolerate the vicious attacks on ICE officers we’ve seen in New Jersey the last few days,” Blanche said in a post on X.
“These riots are clearly not ‘peaceful protests’ as you can see from the photos of these horrific wounds. Assault a federal officer, you’ll be held accountable.”
