ICE agents use pepper balls as protests at Newark detention center intensify

Protests Erupt Outside Newark Detention Center

A demonstration outside the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey, escalated into violence on Wednesday night. Agitators, some wearing keffiyehs, clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, tossing objects over the fence as tensions heightened.

This marked the fifth consecutive night of protests, where demonstrators used items like mattresses and large traffic cones as makeshift shields. They voiced their concerns about what they described as inadequate conditions for undocumented immigrants in detention.

Footage from the scene showed protestors shouting irreversible chants aimed at agents. As tensions flared, ICE officers responded by using batons and pepper spray, with reports of them throwing objects back at the demonstrators.

Tensions had already been building, with ICE agents previously engaging in standoffs with protestors, who were reportedly trying to prevent vehicles from leaving the facility. On Tuesday night, two individuals were arrested after some in the crowd sprayed law enforcement with an unknown substance.

According to reports from journalist Oliya Scootercaster, ICE agents even deployed pepper balls amidst the chaos. Demonstrators reinforced their lines using sandbags and cement blocks as barricades.

The protests not only disrupted traffic but also caught the attention of local truck drivers, with one stopping to confront the demonstrators. “Now, what’s going on?” he shouted, visibly frustrated.

Amidst accusations of mistreatment, a detainee inside the facility had previously issued a letter claiming inadequate food and medical care, which sparked the protests. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) countered this, asserting that all detainees receive three daily meals, clean water, and access to basic necessities.

The protests intensified after prominent local figures, including Senator Andy Kim and Governor Mikie Sherrill, visited the detention center over Memorial Day weekend. Kim, who was granted oversight during the visit, characterized the situation as “unacceptable,” citing details like milk cartons approaching their expiration date. In response, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized Kim for allegedly fueling political theatrics rather than addressing the situation constructively.

Mullin also expressed concerns about the lack of support from local officials, asserting that this could potentially affect federal operations, including international flights, due to resource reallocations if tensions continued to rise.