New Jersey Man Arrested Following Anti-ICE Protest

A New Jersey man, Brendan John Geier, 26, has been arrested on charges of assaulting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. This incident occurred during a protest outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Geier allegedly bit two federal officers.

The DOJ reported that the protest, ongoing for over a week, has led to accusations of violence against federal agents. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the right to peaceful protest, noting, “Peaceful protest doesn’t translate to violently attacking federal law enforcement officers.” Blanche underlined the federal officers’ role in safeguarding U.S. property and facilities, despite little local law enforcement support.

We will not tolerate the vicious attacks we have seen in Newark the last few days, and we will make arrests and hold people accountable for criminal conduct,” Blanche stated.

During Thursday’s confrontations, nine individuals were taken into custody, as confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Federal agents used pepper spray and crowd-control tactics to manage the unrest. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin asserted, “Anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The DOJ recounted the timeline, noting that a large group of demonstrators blocked roads around the facility around 10:30 a.m. Federal officers were conducting security operations when they encountered resistance from protestors, including Geier. Despite repeated demands for the crowd to disperse, the group held its ground.

Prosecutors allege that Geier engaged aggressively, resulting in physical altercations and biting two officers. The injured officers received treatment at a nearby hospital.

In a related event, authorities arrested another individual outside Delaney Hall on charges of issuing death threats to an ICE officer and their family.