At least 20 protesters were arrested outside the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in Newark, New Jersey on the evening of May 31, after violating a new curfew imposed to control weeks-long protests.
According to reports from the scene, local and state police forces had cordoned off the area around Delaney Hall before the 9 PM curfew. When some protesters continued to gather and refused to leave, riot police moved in to disperse the crowd and carried out numerous arrests.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later posted a stern message on social media:
“If you riot, you will face consequences. Law and order will be maintained. Zero tolerance for those who cause disruption.”
Images released by the media showed protesters being handcuffed and placed onto buses belonging to the Essex County Sheriff's Office under the supervision of riot police.
A curfew from 9 PM to 6 AM was issued by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka after several days of clashes between anti-ICE protesters and law enforcement. According to regulations, violators would be warned before being forced to leave the area or face legal action.
Protests around Delaney Hall escalated from late May after some Democratic leaders in New Jersey, including Governor Mikie Sherrill, raised concerns about detention conditions and restricted visitation at the facility.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration rejected allegations regarding detention conditions, stating that the living standards at Delaney Hall were higher than many other detention facilities across the U.S.
