Chaos Outside ICE Detention Center where Hundreds of Migrants are on Hunger Strike as Protesters Storm facility and Senator is Pepper-sprayed
By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER
A US Senator was tear gassed amid chaotic protests outside a New Jersey ICE facility on Monday after the state’s governor was denied entry in what the Department of Homeland Security called ‘a political stunt.’
Anti-ICE protesters have hounded Delaney Hall in Newark for days amid a hunger and labor strike launched by hundreds of detainees inside, according to The New Jersey Monitor.
The facility has been a point of controversy during the second Trump administration, with multiple Democrat politicians demanding its closure over concerns of poor conditions.
The migrants claim that they have been served beans and salad with worms inside, of being placed in crowded rooms without air conditioning and having their immigration cases ignored by federal judges. Some have been there for a year.
Governor Mikie Sherrill and Senator Andy Kim, alongside several members of the state’s Dem-heavy Congressional delegation, showed up to the building Monday demanding answers.
While Kim was allowed in the building, shortly after he was hit by pepper balls shot out by federal agents at those protesting.
‘What we saw here is unfortunately just what we see all over the country,’ Kim told NJ.com, adding that he had trouble breathing.
Kim – who said earlier Monday the facility should be shut down ‘immediately’ – said before the melee broke out that he was trying to get the agents to stop pointing guns at protesters and broker a truce that would allow immigration activists to inspect cars leaving the facility.
An anti-ICE protester confronts a federal agent during a demonstration at Delaney Hall
A protester is recovering from tear gas outside Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark
‘It’s sad, it’s a sad day,’ he added.
When contacted by the Daily Mail, Kim spoke in somewhat general terms about what he witnessed during his oversight visit.
‘I saw chaos inside and outside of the ICE detention center Delaney Hall today. Detainees protesting the lack of due process, the disgusting food and poor treatment while their families and advocates stood outside calling for help,’ he said.
‘Instead of engaging with me and others about the poor conditions, ICE sent in an armored vehicle and a line of armed agents that only poured gasoline on the fire. Civilians were tackled and restrained, and agents fired pepper balls and spray into the crowd. This is more of the same lawlessness we’ve seen elsewhere around the country.’
Kim demanded ‘accountability’ from the Trump administration and a closure to the facility, which he called a ‘failure.’
‘Delaney Hall is a failure; it’s this administration’s failure. The only way to make this right for our communities is to shut it down and make sure the failures we’ve seen never happen again.’
A DHS spokesperson told the Daily Mail that ‘no individuals were directly struck by pepper ball projectiles.’
They said that rioters were obstructing federal agents from getting out of Delaney Hall and had given multiple legal commands to clear the area.
DHS claimed that rioters were obstructing federal agents from getting out of Delaney Hall and had given multiple legal commands to clear the area
Senator Andy Kim assists a protester as clashes with federal agents ensue
Democratic US Senator Andy Kim (pictured) was tear gassed at a protest outside an ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey
When they refused, DHS claimed officers ‘followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property.’
‘The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly – not rioting. DHS is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters.
‘We remind the public that rioting is dangerous—obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony.’
A spokesperson for Governor Sherill told The Daily Mail that she spoke to Kim earlier Monday evening and criticized the treatment by federal agents.
‘He is a sitting US Senator with a right to oversight of this federal facility, and he should be able to freely access it without being harmed,’ Steve Sigmund said.
Earlier in the day, Sherrill expressed outrage over not being allowed inside the facility.
Sherrill, who has also demanded the facility be closed, said that Homeland Security’s denial of access suggests they are hiding something.
‘My request for access to Delaney Hall was formally denied this morning, raising serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view,’ she said.
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