Tensions escalated outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark on Tuesday as federal agents used chemical irritants against protesters and journalists gathered outside the facility. The confrontation occurred as detainees inside staged a combined hunger and labor strike.
Protesters assembled outside the center with signs and chants, including messages reading "ICE OUT" chalked onto the ground. The demonstration reflected mounting opposition to the facility's operations, with some attendees carrying placards comparing the detention center to a concentration camp.
Federal agents in tactical gear moved against the crowd, deploying chemical irritants that forced protesters to retreat. Video documentation captured officers spraying demonstrators and at least one instance where an agent deployed a Taser on a protester following a chase outside the building. Law enforcement also physically pushed back crowds and detain several individuals during the response.
The scene grew increasingly chaotic as clashes broke out between opposing groups. An ICE supporter engaged in physical confrontation with anti-ICE protesters while federal agents maintained a visible presence around the facility's perimeter. Journalists on the scene were also affected by the chemical spray deployed during the operation.
Inside Delaney Hall, detainees continued their dual strike action, refusing both meals and work assignments. The internal protest appears connected to broader grievances about conditions and treatment at the facility. Meanwhile, facility staff were photographed delivering supplies, including food items, suggesting normal operations continued despite the unrest.
The incident drew crowds who stood in solidarity with detainees, linking arms in human chains outside the entrance. Some individuals released from detention were captured raising their fists in gestures of defiance and solidarity with the ongoing action.
The deployment of chemical irritants against both protesters and press members raised questions about enforcement protocols at the facility. The combination of internal labor action and external demonstration underscored growing tensions surrounding immigration detention practices in New Jersey.
Author James Rodriguez: "Chemical spray on journalists documenting a detention center protest crosses a line that federal agents shouldn't be crossing."
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