New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) called for the closure of the Delaney Hall detention center during a live update on Saturday.
The governor's comments come as tensions escalate between anti-ICE protesters and federal agents in Newark. The situation highlights a growing conflict between state leadership and federal immigration enforcement regarding the management of detention facilities within the state.
Protests at the facility have entered their ninth day [1]. The demonstrations have been marked by clashes between activists and ICE agents, prompting the governor to implement specific protest-zone measures to manage the crowds. Sherrill said protecting demonstrators and federal immigration enforcement officers is her administration's top priority.
While calling for the facility to be shut down, Sherrill also defended the actions of local law enforcement. She said the state has a responsibility to keep both protesters and ICE agents safe. These comments follow reports of police using force to maintain order during the ongoing unrest.
Sherrill's push to close the facility follows concerns regarding oversight. She said Delaney Hall should be closed down, noting that the New Jersey Department of Health had been denied full access to the site.
Despite the establishment of peaceful protest zones, clashes have continued. The governor's office continues to monitor the security situation at the Newark site to prevent further violence while the federal government maintains operations at the center.
“"Delaney Hall should be closed down."”
This escalation represents a significant diplomatic rift between the New Jersey state government and federal immigration authorities. By publicly calling for the closure of a federal facility and citing a lack of health department access, Governor Sherrill is leveraging public safety concerns and human rights protests to challenge federal jurisdiction over detention centers in her state.
