Newark Mayor Sues to Shut Down Migrant Center After Clashes
Newark's mayor is filing a lawsuit to close a federal immigration detention facility amid over a week of violent protests by masked left-wing agitators outside the center.
Ras Baraka, 56, plans to file a lawsuit Tuesday seeking the shutdown of Delaney Hall on health and safety grounds, targeting the GEO Group that operates the 1,000-bed New Jersey facility, according to New York Post.
The Democrat mayor issued a sharp rebuke of both the private prison company and federal immigration authorities. It takes all of us to stand against the injustices of the GEO group and ICE, Baraka stated, as reported by NJ.com.
The legal move follows Baraka’s imposition of a nighttime curfew on demonstrators, running from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The measure has done little to quell the unrest.
Chaos Continues Despite Curfew
Anti-ICE protesters have defied the restrictions, continuing to mass outside Delaney Hall. Video footage captured by Freedom News shows agitators verbally assaulting a Newark councilwoman who appealed for calm.
The lawmaker thanked protesters for their presence before being shouted down by the mob. One masked woman pulled down her face covering to scream profanities at the official, telling her to take action rather than offer gratitude.
In a bizarre scene, the councilwoman then clasped hands with a police officer to pray amid the hostile crowd. She was subsequently branded a fascist mouthpiece by demonstrators in additional video documentation.
Chants of vulgar anti-police and anti-ICE slogans echoed through footage shared by witness John Paredes, as New York Post reports.
Dozens Arrested as Violence Escalates
At least 61 arrests were made Monday night alone, according to NJ1015. The outlet indicated that some protesters were transported to the site specifically to stoke disorder.
Over the weekend, masked demonstrators assaulted barriers erected by state police in a designated protest zone, launching projectiles at officers, weaponizing the barriers themselves, and setting tires ablaze in the street.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherill condemned the violence, noting that such actions endangered both peaceful demonstrators and law enforcement personnel.
The demonstrations, now stretching beyond ten days, center on claims regarding detainee conditions inside the facility.
Federal Officials Reject Activist Claims
The Department of Homeland Security has categorically dismissed allegations of mistreatment at Delaney Hall.
The agency issued a statement emphasizing that no hunger strike is occurring and conditions are not substandard. All detainees receive three daily meals, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, toiletries, and regular communication access with family members and legal counsel.
Furthermore, detainees are provided comprehensive healthcare that exceeds what many had access to previously, federal officials noted.
Border czar Tom Homan told Fox News he conducted an unannounced inspection of the center over the weekend and consumed the same food served to those held at the facility.
With information from New York Post
