NEWARK, N.J. – On Friday evening, a group of demonstrators disregarded a directive from the State Police to move to a designated “First Amendment zone,” leading to a violent confrontation with law enforcement.
The protesters engaged in a direct standoff with State Police riot officers, even though Governor Mikie Sherrill had emphasized that the presence of law enforcement was intended to shield them from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
“For your safety, we ask you to relocate to the First Amendment zone,” a police officer announced to the crowd via a public address system.
In defiance, members of the crowd responded, “We will not, we will not, I’m expressing my First Amendment right here.”
The tense encounter unfolded outside the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday night. (John Taggart for Fox News Digital)
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Several hours later, troopers, including some on horseback, deployed heavy riot control tactics, including noise bombs, tear gas grenades, pepper spray and riot shields in an attempt to disperse the mob. The police had established barriers for the zone earlier in the afternoon, which rioters commandeered to fight back against police.
“My top priority is keeping New Jerseyans and our communities safe – and an increased ICE surge in the area outside of Delaney Hall is a threat to public safety,” Sherrill posted to X Saturday morning after the riot. “We know that lives would be at risk were that to happen. And I will not accept that risk.”
Rioters smashed and wrecked ICE vehicles at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey on Friday night (John Taggart for Fox News Digital)
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“This was absolutely necessary to protect public safety, and avoid escalation from ICE,” she added.
New Jersey is considered a “sanctuary state,” where cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement is extremely limited.
While Sherrill posted that ICE agents were a threat to the community, ICE posted to X that they were grateful for the police presence and that it was critical in controlling the violent rioters.
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ICE agents aside from New Jersey Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital; Governor Mikie Sherrill)
“Thank you, @NJSP for cooperating with us to restore law and order,” ICE posted. “This partnership sends a clear message: assaults, threats, and abuse towards law enforcement officers WILL NOT be tolerated.”
The Department of Homeland Security also posted its appreciation for local law enforcement.
“Our heroic @ICEgov officers have been bitten and faced death threats and assaults from violent rioters in New Jersey,” DHS said.
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“Thank you to the New Jersey state police for cooperating with us to restore law and order and help keep our officers safe.”
Rioters were well organized, with a tent just outside of the main protest site stocked full with thousands of water bottles and supplies.
Police and rioters battled outside of Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, charging rioters on horseback. (John Taggart for Fox News Digital)
Rioters claim illegal migrants being held at the detention center have been mistreated, although DHS said that the inmates are well-fed and even paid for work they complete on site. DHS said that inmates being held in the facility have mostly committed crimes in the U.S. in addition to being in the country illegally.
ICE agents fired rounds of pepper balls into the crowd and state law enforcement moved in, but the main battle between local police and rioters left vehicles smashed and many doused with pepper spray and tear gas.
Rioters were organized and calculated in providing waters and other items to agitators during the clash with police on Friday night. (John Taggart for Fox News Digital)
The heated events of Friday night marked the seventh day for agitators protesting outside of the facility.
Counter-protesters and pro-ICE groups attended a demonstration on Saturday morning, where police presence was even greater than Friday night.