Tear Gas and Pepper Spray Deployed as Anti-ICE Protests Erupt Outside Newark Detention Center Despite Protected Zone

Tension between anti-ICE protestors and New Jersey State Police erupted on Friday night outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility, just hours after New Jersey governor, Rebecca Michelle "Mikie" Sherrill established a "peaceful, protected protest zone" in the area right outside Delaney Hall.

"My administration will be working together with community members, faith leaders, advocates, and state police to help people move there. Today, our top priority is public safety, and we need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature," Sherrill said earlier on Friday, while giving updates regarding public safety outside Delaney Hall.

According to the New York Post, anti-ICE demonstrators repeatedly ignored police dispersal orders and continued chanting slogans.

"K*ll yourself, quit your job, quit your job," the crowd chanted.

Footage circulating online showed demonstrators being pushed to the ground as officers deployed tear gas and pepper spray — one clip showed officers advancing behind shields as protesters shouted at them, "F--- You" to them.

At least three protestors were detained, CBS News New York reported. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Public Affairs announced that a New Jersey man was arrested and charged with assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury.

According to a press release, Brendan John Geier, of Madison, New Jersey, "savagely bit an ICE law enforcement officer outside of Delaney Hall," and " responded to lawful orders from federal officers by kicking one and biting two others who were performing their official duties."

"To be clear, peaceful protest does not mean biting, kicking, or punching law enforcement officers," said Spiros Karabinas, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Newark, adding, "The repeated assaults on federal officers at Delaney Hall are criminal acts — not protected speech. Homeland Security Investigations is unwavering in its commitment to hold those who attack law enforcement fully accountable under the law."

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that "Peaceful protest doesn’t translate to violently attacking federal law enforcement officers."

"Federal officers are protecting United States’ property and facilities. With virtually no local law enforcement support from New Jersey, rioters are regrouping and attacking. We will not tolerate the vicious attacks we have seen in Newark the last few days, and we will make arrests and hold people accountable for criminal conduct," he added.

Another protestor cited by CBS News alleged that he was "maced in the face by an ICE officer about 6 inches away from my face," on Monday.

"I have bruises all over my body, but we are here uplifting the voices of the detainees," he added.

Many others are helping the detainees and their families.

"My husband and I are the fruit and produce people. We bring roughly $100 or $150 worth of fruits and vegetables to distribute to the families," one person told the outlet.

While another noted, "We brought some medical supplies. Things like gauze, antibiotics. We brought some snack items, water."