NJ governor sends state police to set up protest zone outside contested immigration detention center

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill sent in state police on Friday to bring order outside an immigration detention center in Newark that has been the site of violent demonstrations and arrests in recent days.

Uniformed troopers set up designated protest zones and vehicle checkpoints to regulate traffic outside Delaney Hall as clashes between protesters and federal immigration enforcement officials continue to intensify.

“It has grown unsafe, and that’s completely unacceptable,” the Democratic governor said at a news conference announcing the new measures. “We need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature.”

Demonstrators outside Delaney Hall had mixed reactions. Some staged a sit-in and refused to move into one of the new protest areas police set up using metal barriers and concrete blocks late Friday.

Rachel Cohen was among those concerned demonstrators exercising their First Amendment rights were being silenced.

“It is not helpful to quell protest for the sake of a false peace,” she said. “There is no peace while we are torturing our neighbors on government dime inside this facility.”

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, on social media, called the measures a “win for law and order," as he noted Sherrill had for days resisted sending state police to intervene.

The protests began last Friday after immigrant advocates said detainees inside launched a hunger strike over poor living conditions at the 1,000-bed facility, which opened last May.

Demonstrators have been attempting to block people and vehicles from entering and exiting the building. They have linked arms in a human chain and used trash cans, umbrellas and other materials as makeshift shields and barricades.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers wearing helmets and tactical vests have used pepper spray and batons to try and disperse the protesters and clear the roadway for vehicles.

At least six demonstrators were arrested for assaulting law enforcement officers Wednesday night, and more have been arrested on other nights of the protests, DHS has said.

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on Friday shared images of some of the bloody wounds and bruises sustained by ICE officers.

“These riots are clearly not ‘peaceful protests’ as you can see from the photos of these horrific wounds,” he wrote in a social media post. “Assault a federal officer, you’ll be held accountable.”

Lisa O’Dwyer was among the demonstrators who said they were fine with the designated protest areas.

“I like to get my point across and stay safe at the same time,” the Westfield resident said.

Eyesha Marable, pastor at Mt. Zion AME Church in Millburn, agreed, even as she acknowledged there are “different schools of thought” among protesters.

“There are people here who are angry. Their family members are inside. Their friends are inside. People have been taken off the streets, out of their communities,” she said.

“We have to keep the peace,” Marable said. “The goal is to get our people free, to get them liberated, and we cannot do that if we’re fighting out here.”

As state police set up protest barriers Friday, ICE officers that had formed a imposing line in front of protesters moved inside the building’s perimeter fence.

ICE officers agreed to stand down as state police assumed public safety responsibilities, according to State Police Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz.

“Let me make this clear: violence, either against protesters or by protesters, is unacceptable,” said state Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. “It is not who we are.”

Sherril stressed that she doesn’t want to give ICE “pretext” to expand operations in the state.

“We all need to do everything we can to cool things down now,” she said.

The governor was among a group of Democratic officials who tried to visit detainees on Monday but were denied entry.

Democratic members of Congress from New York City, however, were able to tour Delaney Hall on Tuesday and described dire conditions where detainees are fed small portions of often spoiled food and their varied medical needs are ignored.

The families of detainees and their supporters say their loved ones have also been subjected to pepper spray and physical force in retaliation for their hunger strike and the protests outside.

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Marcelo reported from New York.