Anti-ICE protesters clashed with federal agents and New Jersey State Police outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark on May 27, 2026 [1].
The confrontations highlight growing tensions over the treatment of immigrants in federal custody and the role of state authorities in managing federal facilities. The unrest follows reports of deteriorating conditions inside the facility, leading to widespread civil disobedience.
Demonstrators are demanding the immediate release of detainees and an overhaul of living conditions. According to reports, more than 300 detainees have entered a hunger strike to protest alleged appalling conditions inside the center [2]. The protests began as a series of demonstrations that lasted eight days before state police took over security operations [3].
Governor Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) was denied entry to the facility during the unrest. Following the clashes, Sherrill addressed the volatility of the situation.
"I have called on federal immigration law enforcement to de-escalate tensions," Sherrill said [4].
The clashes occurred primarily on May 27, though demonstrations continued through Tuesday, May 28, 2026 [5]. Protesters have vowed to maintain their presence until the detainees are freed.
"We won't stop until they're free," a protester said [6].
Security at the Newark site has remained tight as federal agents and state police manage the perimeter. The facility is operated by the Department of Homeland Security and the GEO Group, both of which have faced criticism from advocacy groups regarding the welfare of those held at Delaney Hall.
“"We won't stop until they're free"”
The escalation at Delaney Hall underscores a deepening conflict between state leadership in New Jersey and federal immigration enforcement. The use of hunger strikes by a large cohort of detainees suggests a systemic failure in facility management, while the denial of entry to the governor indicates a significant friction point regarding state oversight of federal detention centers.
