New Jersey Democrats spent days pressuring federal immigration authorities for access to Delaney Hall. Now, the scene outside Newark’s detention center has escalated so severely that even the state’s Democratic governor ordered State Police deployment.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced State Police would establish designated protest zones and vehicle checkpoints near Delaney Hall after clashes between demonstrators and federal immigration officers intensified. Her own statements underscored the urgency: “It has grown unsafe, and that’s completely unacceptable,” she stated. “We need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature.”

The Justice Department simultaneously filed criminal charges against Brendan John Geier for allegedly kicking and biting ICE officers at Delaney Hall. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed these actions on May 29, 2026, stating the department would not tolerate attacks on immigration officers. “Violence either against protesters or by protesters is unacceptable,” emphasized Attorney General Jennifer Davenport in separate remarks.

Demonstrators had blocked vehicle and pedestrian access, formed human chains, and deployed trash cans and umbrellas as barriers while federal agents used pepper spray and batons to clear pathways. The state response targeted crowd control and public safety around the facility’s perimeter—specifically the gate and surrounding traffic patterns—not changes to detention operations inside.

The unrest at Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed Newark immigration center reopened under the Trump administration, has become central to national debates over federal enforcement policies. DHS Secretary Linda Mullin recently announced arrests of nine individuals outside the site following reports of anti-ICE demonstrators allegedly assaulting federal officers.

Sherrill reiterated her commitment: “I will not give ICE the pretext to expand operations in our state.” The facility remains a focal point as both federal and local authorities navigate escalating tensions over immigration enforcement, with protests continuing Friday amid ongoing security concerns.