Tensions reached a boiling point outside a contentious immigration detention center in New Jersey over the weekend, prompting Governor Mikie Sherrill to issue a stern warning against what she termed as external agitators and extremist groups.
Following a series of increasingly volatile protests surrounding Newark’s Delaney Hall, the Democratic governor disclosed that a significant number of those apprehended during Friday night’s disturbances were not state residents.
Her announcement coincided with the presence of hundreds of opposing demonstrators, with one faction supporting ICE and the other advocating for the facility’s closure. The groups were separated by recently installed barricades, under the vigilant eye of heavily armed police officers.
“Five of the six individuals arrested by state police last night hailed from outside New Jersey,” Sherrill noted during a briefing on Saturday afternoon. “Moreover, we have observed the involvement of national extremist entities in today’s protests.”
Governor Sherrill addressed those she accused of traveling to Newark with the intent of escalating the unrest.
“To those arriving from other states to incite turmoil and endanger the community: your presence is unwelcome. You are not aiding the detainees at Delaney Hall,” she asserted.
Sherrill also ordered state police to flood the area in an effort to prevent further violence.
The warning followed another turbulent night around the facility, where authorities say demonstrators ignored orders to disperse and police were forced to intervene after tensions spiraled.
Police officers restrain anti-ICE protesters outside Delaney Hall, which is being used as an ICE detention center, in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday
Pro-ICE demonstrators waved American flags, chanted ‘USA, USA,’ and displayed signs supporting immigration enforcement
Anti-ICE demonstrators beat drums and chanted ‘Shut down Delaney Hall, free them all!’ outside the detention center
State officials said one person was charged with disorderly conduct and endangering another person, while the remaining five faced charges including disorderly conduct and obstruction.
According to New Jersey State Police, four of those arrested were from New York, one was from Pennsylvania and only one was a New Jersey resident.
The governor’s remarks came amid growing concern that the protests, initially focused on allegations of poor conditions inside Delaney Hall, are attracting increasingly militant activists from outside the region.
Sherrill did not identify the extremist groups she referenced. She praised peaceful demonstrators while urging all sides to step back from confrontation.
The governor insisted New Jersey would continue protecting the right to protest but warned that anyone arriving with the intention of provoking violence would face a growing law enforcement presence determined to keep the increasingly volatile situation from exploding into something far worse.
Video circulating on social media Saturday appeared to show self-described anti-ICE demonstrators confronting individuals associated with the Proud Boys.
Authorities say some of the disorder has gone beyond shouting matches.
New Jersey State Police Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz said individuals involved in Friday’s unrest targeted a marked patrol vehicle and issued threats toward law enforcement personnel.
Video posted to social media on Saturday appeared to show individuals with the Proud Boys being chased away from the Delaney Hall protest area by anti-ICE demonstrators
A member of the Proud Boys carries a flag outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark
A demonstrator stands outside the Delaney Hall detention center during the protest
New Jersey State Police erected barricades and designated separate protest zones to prevent clashes between the opposing groups. Officers equipped with riot shields guarded entrances
Those actions, he said, created immediate safety concerns as tensions continued to rise.
By Saturday morning, the area around Delaney Hall had effectively become a fortified protest zone.
Police established separate demonstration areas for rival groups after approximately 200 supporters of ICE and roughly 300 anti-ICE demonstrators gathered outside the facility. Fencing and barricades were used to keep the opposing crowds apart.
At various points, officers equipped with riot shields guarded entrances to the detention center while federal agents and armored vehicles remained visible nearby.
Despite the hostile atmosphere, the two sides largely remained separated throughout the day.
Pro-immigration activists beat drums, waved signs and chanted slogans demanding the closure of Delaney Hall, arguing detainees were being subjected to unsafe and inhumane treatment.
Supporters of ICE answered with American flags, pro-enforcement signs and chants of ‘USA.’
Many anti-ICE demonstrators pointed to allegations made by detainees and advocacy groups regarding conditions inside the facility, accusations that both federal authorities and the facility’s operator strongly deny.
The Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly pushed back against claims of mistreatment and on Saturday condemned what it described as a ‘coordinated campaign of violence against our ICE law enforcement.’
Former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino criticized the federal response and argued that stronger riot-control tactics should have been used. Pictured, January 2026
On Friday night, New Jersey State Police used tear gas and stun grenades as they cleared protestors from outside Delaney Hall
A protestor kicks a tear gas canister as New Jersey State Police cleared protestors from outside Delaney Hall
New Jersey State Police are seen outside Delaney Hall on Friday night
‘This violence against law enforcement must end,’ the agency said.
DHS has also alleged that federal officers stationed at Delaney Hall have faced assaults, threats and other acts of intimidation during the demonstrations.
The GEO Group, the private company that operates Delaney Hall, similarly rejected accusations concerning conditions inside the facility.
The company said staff recently responded to a detainee altercation using approved control measures and maintained that all actions complied with federal standards.
The protests have also drawn attention from figures aligned with the Trump administration.
Former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino sharply criticized the federal response to the unrest, arguing authorities had failed to move aggressively enough to restore order.
‘I don’t know who’s holding these guys back, but basic riot control starts with gas,’ Bovino wrote on social media.
‘This should’ve been over in 15 minutes. We’re now on day three. Secretary Mullin’s inaction is putting his own agents, the facility, and the detained aliens at risk. Hesitation isn’t compassion – it’s dangerous weakness.’
Bovino later suggested he was prepared to travel to Newark himself, posting an image appearing to show him boarding a flight and publicly questioning whether he should intervene
A Newark police officer is seen in riot gear outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey
Bovino later suggested he was prepared to travel to Newark himself, posting an image appearing to show him boarding a flight and publicly questioning whether he should intervene.
The former border official’s comments added another layer of political tension to a protest movement that has become a flashpoint in the national immigration debate.
Earlier this week, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said approximately 100 anti-ICE rioters had descended on demonstrations outside the facility and accused some participants of assaulting officers and throwing objects at law enforcement personnel.
‘Throughout the night, six rioters were arrested for assaulting law enforcement officers,’ Mullin wrote on social media.
‘Local police refused to help our officers. Assaulting and obstructing ICE law enforcement is a crime and felony. Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Law and order will prevail.’
