Newark Mayor Implements Curfew Near Delaney Hall Following Protests

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has established a nightly curfew around the Delaney Hall immigration detention center due to ongoing protests regarding detainee conditions and federal immigration enforcement. The curfew will be enforced from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice. This decision follows a weekend of confrontations where police utilized riot shields and mounted officers to disperse demonstrators who were reportedly tearing down barricades and setting tires on fire. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has called for calm, emphasizing that violent actions jeopardize the safety of both protesters and law enforcement. She highlighted that the protests intensified after detainees initiated a hunger strike to demand improved living conditions. The facility, operated by GEO Group under the supervision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, reopened for immigration detainees in February 2025. In response to the unrest, New Jersey state police have taken over from federal agents at the site. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that family visitations at Delaney Hall will resume following the establishment of a secure perimeter.