Newark New Jersey officials have established a nightly curfew around the Delaney Hall immigration detention center after several days of demonstrations culminated in clashes between protesters and law enforcement.
Mayor Ras Baraka announced that the restriction encompasses a half-mile radius surrounding the Delaney Hall facility in Newark, running from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. every evening. Pedestrian movement along nearby Doremus Avenue has been entirely banned during these hours, while vehicular traffic is restricted solely to individuals with authorized business in the zone.
The curfew follows multiple confrontations outside the detention center, where authorities reported arrests and incidents involving weapons. Tensions escalated over the weekend as protesters and police faced off near barriers surrounding the facility. Videos and photographs showed officers using riot shields and mounted units to disperse crowds, while officials said some demonstrators tore down barricades, threw objects and set fires in the area.
The protests began earlier this month after advocates reported that detainees at the 1,000-bed facility launched hunger and labor strikes to protest conditions inside the center. Demonstrators have called for improved treatment of detainees, greater transparency and the eventual closure of Delaney Hall, which is operated by GEO Group under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill stated on Sunday that masked individuals hijacked the designated demonstration spaces, “throwing projectiles, utilizing the barriers as weapons, and lighting tires on fire in the street.” Sherrill condemned the behavior for endangering members of the public and police officers, asking for calm so that advocates could focus on securing “better conditions for the detainees, for their families, and ultimately, for the closure of Delaney Hall.”
State police have assumed responsibility for security outside the detention center, replacing federal immigration agents who had previously been stationed there. Officials also established designated protest areas in an effort to reduce tensions and prevent further confrontations.
Meanwhile, family visitation at Delaney Hall resumed Sunday after being temporarily suspended during the unrest. Federal officials said the pause was related to security concerns, while state leaders welcomed the restoration of access for detainees’ relatives.
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