Clashes have erupted between protesters and federal agents at Delaney Hall’s parking lot in Newark since Memorial Day weekend. Protests focus on conditions within the immigration detention center there.
Federal agents have now agreed to leave the area, handing control to New Jersey state officials. This change follows negotiations allowing state police to oversee the situation, potentially restoring order to the site.
On Friday, federal officers charged into a protest crowd, used chemical irritants, and arrested three demonstrators. Additionally, one officer reportedly beat a protester with a baton as the individual attempted to escape.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin claimed the withdrawal of federal officers marked a triumph for his agency. Governor Mikie Sherrill’s decision to refuse state police support for federal agents was highlighted as part of this “win for law and order.”
The Department of Homeland Security maintains federal agents used minimal force, asserting protesters hindered law enforcement’s duties. However, with state police now in charge, designated protest zones will be established outside Delaney Hall for demonstrators to gather peacefully.