Clashes erupt at New Jersey detention center amid ICE protests

Clashes at Newark facility

New Jersey State Police clashed with demonstrators outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark late Saturday, deploying tear gas and mounted officers to disperse the crowd. The confrontation erupted after protesters pushed against metal barricades surrounding the facility and set a fire in the street outside, according to local media reports.

More than 200 anti-ICE and pro-ICE demonstrators had gathered outside the privately-operated facility throughout the day. Tensions escalated sharply after some protesters breached security barriers, prompting officers in riot gear to fire tear gas into the crowd, while mounted units were deployed later as demonstrators threw rocks and bottles at law enforcement, sources told NJ.com.

Governor defends police response

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill defended the deployment of state troopers as "absolutely necessary" and urged those traveling from outside the state to avoid creating chaos. The governor had earlier appealed for calm, but the clashes marked the latest escalation in nearly a week of sustained protests at Delaney Hall, including an incident Monday in which US Senator Andy Kim was reportedly pepper-sprayed by immigration agents while demonstrating, according to media reports.

Detainees allege poor conditions

The unrest coincides with a hunger strike by detainees protesting poor food quality and inadequate medical care at the facility. The Trump administration has denied these allegations and accused demonstrators of disorderly conduct and assaulting law enforcement officers, sources said.