Delaney Hall Clash: Newark Mayor Puts Curfew After Dispute Outside Immigration Detention Center

On May 29, large protests erupted outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark. A series of clashes occurred between protesters and law enforcement officials, leading to a tense standoff as police attempted to disperse the crowd.

The escalation followed a hunger strike launched by nearly 300 detainees on May 22. The detainees protested what they described as inhumane living conditions. Advocates cited overcrowded rooms, dirty bathrooms, and a lack of medical care for detainees with health issues. Amid the unrest, Newark’s mayor announced a curfew to help control the situation.

In response to the ongoing protests, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposed a curfew within a half-mile radius of Delaney Hall. A statement from his office said the curfew would remain in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following day.

Road access near Doremus Avenue would also be restricted to pedestrian traffic beginning at midnight. Vehicle access would be limited to those with verified official business in the area.

Mayor Baraka stated, “Beginning at 12 a.m., Doremus Avenue will be closed to all pedestrian traffic. Vehicle access will be strictly limited to those with verified official business in the area. This curfew will remain in effect nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.”

Videos and pictures from the protests outside Delaney Hall on social media show protestors climbing over barricades and blocking several government vehicles. All entrances to the detention center facility were bound by human chains, preventing anyone from entering or exiting.

Some masked rioters even threw projectiles at government officials and law enforcement personnel. They used barriers as weapons and set tires on fire for threatening purposes.

To control the situation, police arrived on horseback and broke the crowd. They used riot shields to push back the gathering and even occasionally deployed gas canisters and batons against them. Chemical irritants and tear gas were also sprayed on people to control their movement.

Agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement department handled the incident. Later, Governor Mikie Sherill relieved the ICE from duty. Forces from the Newark Police and Essex County Sheriff’s Office to replace them soon. The state police then chalked out specific protest zones, and the ICE agents were particularly moved inside a designated perimeter fence.

In a statement later on, Governor Sherill condemned the protestors’ attacks on federal agents. He said, “These actions put both peaceful protestors and law enforcement in danger. The police were not in protective gear; they had been on location since early in the morning, ensuring protestors and counter-protestors had areas to exercise their rights safely."

By midnight of May 30, protestors dispersed from outside Delaney Hall. Deputies were successful in driving the rioters away. They even began clearing the roads.

An official spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security then confirmed that the detainees' visitation rights were restored once the clashes ended. They commented, “To be clear: Visitation was only suspended because of violent riots. Now that we have a secure perimeter, visitation can resume.”