On Thursday, Newark’s mayor, Ras Baraka, announced a reduced police presence at Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark. This facility, managed by private prison company GEO Group, has seen protests often escalating into chaos over the past two weeks.
Mayor Baraka explained the decision to scale back the city’s police presence. “We will not allocate municipal taxpayers’ funds for the protection of a private facility, especially when it jeopardizes our officers,” he stated, emphasising the need to focus municipal resources on other community needs as the budget is already limited.
He also highlighted a noticeable decline in disturbances recently. The mayor noted that, starting Friday, Newark police would prioritize traffic management and public safety, aiming to safeguard both protesters and motorists.
The future role of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the New Jersey State Police at the site remains uncertain. Typically, the state police assist only if municipal authorities request help. Sean Higgins, a spokesman for New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, stated, “The governor prioritizes humane conditions for detainees and their families at Delaney Hall. We urge demonstrators to maintain peace.”
ICE issued a statement confirming the complete closure of the perimeter around Delaney Hall, stating that their operations were proceeding without interruption. “Anyone attempting to hinder law enforcement or disrupt operations will face prosecution,” the statement warned.
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