New Jersey Man Charged After Alleged Assaults on ICE Officers

A man from Madison, New Jersey, faces federal charges following an incident outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that 26-year-old Brendan John Geier was part of a group blocking a road near the center. This group was asked by ICE deportation officers to move, but instead, they reportedly engaged in violent behavior.

Geier allegedly struggled with the officers, kicking them and biting one officer on the forearm and another on the knuckle. The injuries required hospital treatment. He was charged with assaulting federal officers and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the gravity of the situation, contrasting these acts with peaceful protests. He assured that assaults on federal officers would lead to accountability, as reinforced in a statement posted on social media. Blanche also shared photos showing the injuries sustained by ICE agents.

Peaceful protest doesn’t translate to violently attacking federal law enforcement officers, Blanche stated. Federal officers are protecting United States’ property and facilities.

The situation at Delaney Hall has escalated with reports of agitators throwing objects like wooden pallets and mattresses at federal agents. Demonstrations have persisted for nearly two weeks. The absence of local law enforcement support has been noted by federal authorities, leading to a complicated security situation.

U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer highlighted the need for officers to perform their duties without facing violence or intimidation. Spiros Karabinas from Homeland Security Investigations reiterated this stance, condemning the repeated assaults and vowing to hold attackers accountable.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, present during Memorial Day at the protests, instructed state police to handle public safety outside the detention center. In contrast, federal authorities, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, criticized the lack of local police cooperation.

The continued demonstrations at Delaney Hall involve both anti-ICE protesters and counterprotesters, creating a tense environment necessitating increased police presence.