Arson and Riots at Newark ICE Detention Center Lead to Suspended Visits

DHS will restore limited family visitation at noon Monday at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, with regular hours resuming Tuesday, according to announcements following the establishment of a secure perimeter. State police set up the perimeter Sunday after violent riots outside the facility.

A DHS spokesperson said visitation had been suspended because “violent riots outside the facility made it unsafe for our officers, detainee’s families and lawyers to visit the facility.” The spokesperson added that “We did not cave to the Governor’s demands” and that operations at Delaney Hall would continue normally once a secure perimeter was established.

Protests at Delaney Hall began at least May 22. They intensified after demonstrators were denied entry during a Memorial Day visit by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, Sen. Andy Kim and Rep. Rob Menendez. On Saturday, clashes between protesters and police led officers to deploy tear gas. A fire was set in the roadway outside the facility.

Sherrill toured the facility on Memorial Day with other state officials and later said the resumption followed demands she and those officials made. She urged demonstrators to protest peacefully and avoid further escalation. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined Reps.

Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Josh Gottheimer for a Sunday visit. The four Democrats said conditions they observed with roughly two dozen detainees “shock the conscience” and called for fair and humane enforcement.

Bloomberg reported that Newark imposed a curfew at the migrant detention site as visits resume. Officials said the restoration of visitation would proceed under the new security measures.