Anti-ICE Agitator Charged With Biting Officers During Protest
A New Jersey man was charged with assaulting federal officers after allegedly biting and kicking agents during violent protests at a Newark immigration detention facility.
Brendan John Geier, 26, from Madison, New Jersey, was charged Friday with assaulting federal officers during Thursday night’s chaotic demonstrations at Delaney Hall, according to New York Post. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges on social media, sharing images of the injured officers’ wounds.
Blanche made clear that lawful demonstration does not extend to physical violence against federal personnel. He noted that federal officers are defending government property and facilities with minimal assistance from New Jersey local law enforcement, while rioters continue to regroup and launch attacks.
The Department of Justice maintains zero tolerance for the brutal assaults witnessed in Newark over recent days, with authorities committed to making arrests and ensuring accountability for criminal behavior.
Geier appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais on Friday following his arrest.
Violent Confrontation at Detention Center
According to the DOJ complaint, Geier joined a large contingent of demonstrators blocking roadway access to the Delaney Hall ICE detention center at approximately 10:30 p.m. Thursday evening.
The facility has become a flashpoint for aggressive protests in recent days, with demonstrators claiming poor conditions for detainees inside. The Department of Homeland Security has categorically rejected these allegations.
When ICE officers formed a line and advanced to clear the blocked road, they issued repeated commands for demonstrators to move back. Geier and others refused to comply with lawful orders, prosecutors state.
Instead of dispersing, Geier engaged in physical combat with deportation officers, kicking multiple agents before biting one officer’s forearm and another’s knuckle. Both victims required medical treatment at a local hospital.
Federal Response to Assaults on Law Enforcement
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin condemned Geier as a violent agitator on social media, emphasizing that the Trump Administration stands firmly behind federal law enforcement personnel.
Any individual who assaults a law enforcement officer will face prosecution to the maximum extent permitted by law, Mullin warned.
Ongoing Unrest Despite State Intervention
Violent confrontations between law enforcement and protesters persisted near Delaney Hall Friday night, even after New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill attempted to designate a peaceful protest zone.
Anti-ICE agitators were recorded chanting disturbing messages directed at law enforcement officers. Police deployed tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the disorderly crowd, video footage confirms.
The Post attempted to contact Geier for comment but received no response.
With information from New York Post
