Newark Curfew Imposed After Delaney Hall Protest Erupts Into Clashes, Fires and Arrests
Newark, NJ — A curfew now surrounds the area near Newark’s Delaney Hall ICE detention facility after protests escalated into confrontations with law enforcement, fires in the street, and multiple arrests, prompting state and federal officials to increase security around the site.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced Sunday that Newark would enforce a nighttime curfew within a half-mile radius of Delaney Hall after what officials described as aggressive actions by a group of protesters who breached designated demonstration areas and confronted police. The curfew runs from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and remains in effect until further notice.
Critics argue that this effort will not deter the violent rioters, sending them into other parts of the city.
Violence Overshadows Day of Mostly Peaceful Demonstrations
According to Davenport’s office, the majority of demonstrators protested peacefully throughout the day, but conditions changed during the evening when a large group allegedly attempted to push into a law-enforcement security zone outside the facility. All accounts on the ground and videos shared on social media show the opposite occurred.
The Attorney General’s statement said individuals attacked barriers, charged at officers, threw projectiles, and set fires in Newark streets, creating what officials described as a public safety threat.
State and local agencies, including the Newark Police Department and New Jersey State Police, moved in to disperse crowds and secure the area.
“Unfortunately, a large group of individuals took aggressive actions at Delaney Hall this evening that required state and local law enforcement to react,” Davenport said in the statement.
Key Points
• Newark imposed a nightly curfew around Delaney Hall from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• State officials reported attacks on barriers, projectiles thrown at officers, and fires in the street
• Federal officials said five of six arrests involved individuals from outside New Jersey
Federal Officials Warn Against Attacks on ICE Personnel
The unrest has drawn increasing attention from federal authorities as protests surrounding immigration enforcement continue to intensify.
The Department of Homeland Security said five of six people arrested during the latest demonstrations were from outside New Jersey. DHS described the violence as part of a broader pattern of threats directed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.
According to DHS, ICE officers have faced an 8,000% increase in death threats and a 1,300% increase in assaults.
“There is a coordinated campaign of violence against our ICE law enforcement,” the agency said in a statement.
Federal officials also said the area surrounding Delaney Hall has been secured through coordination between DHS, ICE, New Jersey State Police, and local law enforcement agencies.
“Anyone who attempts to obstruct law enforcement or disrupt our facility will face the full weight of the law,” DHS said.
Reports also indicate Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is considering reassigning some customs personnel from Newark Liberty International Airport to assist federal operations connected to the ongoing demonstrations.
Mounted Troopers Face Hostile Crowd
Among the most visible law-enforcement responses were mounted New Jersey State Police units deployed near the detention center.
Witness accounts and videos circulating online appeared to show protesters surrounding police horses, flashing lights toward the animals, waving objects near their faces, and attempting to distract or disorient them with loud noises and fireworks.
Additional footage shared on social media purportedly showed objects being thrown toward mounted officers, including rocks and pieces of wood. Officials have not released a comprehensive incident report detailing every allegation, but state authorities confirmed that projectiles were thrown during the unrest.
The confrontations continued to highlight the increasingly volatile atmosphere that developed as officers attempted to maintain security around Delaney Hall.
Mikie Sherrill said the violence was not by the local radicals, but that ‘national extremist groups’ inflitrated the protest on Saturday.
New Jersey Senator Andy Kim, who joined the protest during the week, has remained silent on the violence he supported, and many say, he even encouraged. Kim is calling for the closure of the facility, which opened during the Obama administration, where he worked as a State Department note taker.
Political and Public Reactions Intensify
The clashes quickly generated reactions from political activists and advocacy groups on both sides of the immigration debate.
While Governor Mikie Sherrill’s administration has supported oversight efforts related to Delaney Hall and emphasized the right to peaceful protest, some demonstrators reportedly directed chants criticizing the governor throughout the evening.
“F-ck Mikie Sherrill,” protesters shouted into the night.
State officials continued to distinguish between peaceful demonstrators and those accused of engaging in violence, downplaying the seriousness of the violence and threats to law enforcement trying to maintain order.
“We thank the overwhelmingly peaceful protestors, who have been shining a light on the troubling conditions at Delaney Hall,” Davenport’s office said.
America First New Jersey leader Mike Crispi, who organized a pro-ICE counterprotest earlier in the day, condemned those involved in the clashes.
“This is not a ‘protest’ this is a paid-for, militant operation designed to intimidate us,” Crispi wrote on social media.
“I saw it with my own eyes today, these people are purely satanic.”
Crispi went further in his criticism, writing that the New Jersey State Police had “every right to PUMMEL these people into oblivion” and adding, “We don’t negotiate with TERRORISTS!”
His comments reflected the growing tensions surrounding Delaney Hall, which has become a flashpoint in the broader national debate over immigration enforcement and detention policies.
Security Presence Expected to Continue
State officials said they will continue working with Governor Sherrill’s administration to address concerns surrounding conditions at Delaney Hall while maintaining public safety around the facility.
Davenport’s office said law enforcement agencies will remain stationed around the detention center and continue enforcing the curfew as necessary.
The curfew remains active, and authorities have not announced when it might be lifted. Newark Police, New Jersey State Police, and federal agencies continue monitoring activity around Delaney Hall as investigations into the weekend’s violence remain ongoing.