Protests Erupt at Delaney Hall Detention Center

Demonstrations outside Delaney Hall, an immigrant detention center, have occasionally become violent. Authorities have used tear gas and batons to manage crowds that resisted dispersal orders.

Background and Context

The Delaney Hall detention center in Newark gained attention after its reopening last year. This facility has become central in President Trump’s immigration enforcement actions. Many individuals detained here come from across the Northeast, leading to frequent protests.

In May 2025, notable incidents thrust Delaney Hall into the spotlight. Newark’s mayor, Ras Baraka, faced trespassing charges, and Representative LaMonica McIver faced assault charges during a protest-related altercation with immigration agents. Charges against Mr. Baraka were dismissed, but Ms. McIver’s case continues. Both officials are Democrats.

Unrest in June led to a jailbreak from the 1,000-bed facility. Detainees and their families attributed the escape to crowded conditions and irregular meal services. Tragically, in December, a 41-year-old man from Haiti died shortly after arriving at the center, reportedly due to a medical emergency.

Memorial Day Weekend Protests

The most recent protests erupted during Memorial Day weekend when demonstrators supported detainees believed to be on a hunger strike. This demonstration intensified when New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, participated.

Events on Monday, May 25, saw a tense confrontation between immigration agents and demonstrators blocking a center entrance. Officials reported that agents used pepper spray and balls against protesters who wouldn’t comply with dispersal requests. Senator Andy Kim, also a Democrat, was among those affected by the confrontation.

As events unfolded, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began forcefully removing protesters obstructing the entrance.