Federal Agents Withdraw From Delaney Hall Protests

Clashes erupted between protesters and federal agents at Delaney Hall’s parking lot in Newark starting Memorial Day weekend. These demonstrations focused on the conditions inside the immigration detention center.

Federal agents agreed to withdraw from the area, allowing New Jersey state officials to manage the protests. This change followed nearly a week of confrontations between demonstrators and federal officers.

Sgt. First Class Charles Marchan of the New Jersey State Police shared that the state police had negotiated with federal officials for control. The aim is to restore order outside the detention center.

On Friday, federal officers charged into a crowd, using forceful tactics such as pushing protesters and deploying chemical irritants. An officer assaulted a demonstrator with a baton as they attempted to flee. Three protesters were arrested and taken into the detention center.

Markwayne Mullin, the homeland security secretary, viewed the federal agents’ withdrawal as a win for his agency. He stated, “This is a win for law and order,” acknowledging Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s refusal to allow state police to assist ICE agents. The agency emphasized using minimal force to counteract what they labeled as obstruction by rioters.

Governor Sherrill announced that state police would establish a designated protest zone outside Delaney Hall, providing a space for demonstrators to gather peacefully.