Family Visitation to Resume at Newark Immigration Detention Center After Protests and Clashes

Family visitation hours are set to resume on Sunday at the Delaney Hall Immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the change Sunday morning after the Department of Homeland Security agreed to restore access.

"DHS has met our demand to restore family visitation," Sherrill said. Limited visitation will resume at noon on May 31 2026, with regular hours restored beginning May 32 2026. Sherrill advised families to contact the facility for details and said law enforcement would escort visitors inside.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries conducted an oversight visit to Delaney Hall on May 31 2026 with New Jersey Reps. Rob Menendez, Josh Gottheimer, and LaMonica McIver. Jeffries said the conditions "shock the conscience" after speaking with about two dozen detainees.

He reported unsanitary living conditions, lack of adequate medical care, and unhealthy food, and called for the facility to be shut down immediately. The Department of Homeland Security has previously denied allegations of poor conditions and reports of a hunger strike. About 300 detainees began a hunger strike on May 22 2026.

Overnight on May 30-31 2026, masked individuals attacked barriers in the protected protest area and took "aggressive and dangerous actions" against Newark and New Jersey State Police, Sherrill said. Actions included throwing projectiles, using barriers as weapons, and setting tires on fire. Three people were arrested, including one charged with illegal possession of a weapon.

U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. " Six people were arrested on Friday night outside the facility, where tear gas was deployed and mounted officers helped disperse the crowd.

M. m. m. A state police official said law enforcement would reevaluate whether to allow protesters and news media closer than a half-mile.

Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey was tear-gassed on Monday while trying to de-escalate the situation. " New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has been denied access inside Delaney Hall. Brendan John Geier, 26, of Madison, New Jersey, was charged with kicking a federal officer and biting two others during a confrontation on Thursday.

He was released and prohibited from returning to the facility. Demonstrations outside Delaney Hall continued on May 30 and May 31 2026. Protests began outside the facility last week. On May 30, a handful of pro-ICE demonstrators gathered with signs and American flags, though the group was smaller than the anti-ICE crowd.

Men wearing clothing with the Proud Boys logo were seen among the pro-ICE demonstrators. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said most demonstrators complied with orders Friday night to let vehicles through, though a limited number did not. Some protesters deployed fireworks and threw gas canisters at law enforcement.

State police did not fire rubber bullets or use batons during the incident. Col. David Sierotowicz said ICE officers agreed to stand down, with state police assuming responsibility.

Tensions escalated between protesters and state officers wearing riot gear and shields. Mullin posted on X that "anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.