Newark Mayor Orders 9 p.m. Curfew Around Delaney Hall as Protests Over 1,000-Bed ICE Site Intensify
Updated
Updated · WABC-TV · May 31
Newark Mayor Orders 9 p.m. Curfew Around Delaney Hall as Protests Over 1,000-Bed ICE Site Intensify
5 articles · Updated · WABC-TV · May 31
Ras Baraka imposed an immediate nightly curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. within a half-mile of Delaney Hall, closing Doremus Avenue to pedestrians and sharply limiting vehicle access.
Governor Mikie Sherrill sent in New Jersey State Police after a week of escalating demonstrations tied to a detainee hunger strike over alleged poor conditions; state police took over the perimeter as ICE officers stood down.
Protesters have tried to block entrances with human chains and makeshift barricades, and ICE officers have used pepper spray and batons; DHS says at least six demonstrators were arrested Wednesday for allegedly assaulting officers.
The crackdown split demonstrators, with some rejecting designated protest zones as suppression of First Amendment rights while others backed barriers and curbs to keep the focus on detainees' release.
The unrest centers on allegations of spoiled food, ignored medical needs and retaliation inside the privately run facility, which opened last May with 1,000 beds and now holds about 300 detainees.
Amid protests and escapes, can for-profit detention centers ensure both public safety and humane conditions?
How can the public verify detainee welfare when officials deny a hunger strike is even happening?
When 'free speech zones' are created, what defines the boundary between maintaining order and suppressing dissent?
Delaney Hall Crisis: 1,000+ Detainees, Hunger Strike, and Violent Clashes Spark National Immigration Showdown in Newark (May–June 2026)
Overview
In late May 2026, Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, became the center of escalating protests and violent clashes, as hundreds gathered outside the ICE facility to demand better conditions for detainees. The week saw a dramatic rise in protest activity, with multiple arrests following confrontations where protesters threw gas canisters and fireworks at officers. Federal authorities responded with heightened security and strong statements, while political leaders and community members raised concerns about alleged inhumane conditions inside the facility. This tense standoff highlighted deep divisions between federal enforcement and local advocacy, drawing national attention to immigration detention practices.