The curfew that was implemented to manage unrest surrounding Newark’s Delaney Hall immigration detention center was lifted on Tuesday by the city’s Democratic mayor.
Mayor Ras Baraka announced in the evening that the 9 p.m. curfew, along with the designated free speech area near the facility, would no longer be in effect. This decision follows a weekend of escalating tensions between anti-ICE protesters and law enforcement.
“After last night’s protests resulted in no arrests, we are lifting this curfew to allow for the full expression of Americans’ rights to free speech and peaceful assembly,” Baraka stated.
He also expressed confidence in the protesters, urging them to act in a way that honors the individuals affected by ICE and the GEO Group’s for-profit detention system.
“I believe in community-focused police officer policies and training and the broader public safety ecosystem for violence prevention,” he noted.
This decision comes after significant disturbances, where protesters traveled from as far away as Portland, Oregon. Incidents included aggressive behavior toward federal officers, including biting one and making serious threats against employees and their families.
Baraka mentioned that restrictions around the facility have been lifted, allowing protesters to gather directly in front of Delaney Hall instead of being pushed to the street.
Following the announcement, demonstrators celebrated, chanting, “A united people will never give up,” as video footage showed police managing barricades while the crowd cheered outside.
Newark police took over control of the area from New Jersey State Police after Baraka criticized law enforcement’s weekend tactics, labeling them as “aggressive, unnecessary, and, in some cases, unconstitutional.”
During the city’s curfew period that began Sunday, police reported arresting 61 individuals for various offenses, including failure to disperse and resisting arrest.
The detention center’s situation has been contentious since May 22, when Democratic leaders, including New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, highlighted concerns regarding poor living conditions and limited visiting hours for inmates. Reports suggest that detainees have initiated a hunger strike in response to these conditions, although the Trump administration maintains that living standards at Delaney Hall exceed those of many U.S. prisons.
