Used by New Jersey State Police tear gas and dispersed demonstrators gathered outside the immigration office. detention facility In Newark, protests over conditions inside the center have intensified.
The clashes took place at Delaney Hall, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility that has been the focus of demonstrations for nearly a week. Protesters, activists and advocacy groups have accused the facility of poor treatment of detainees, claims that federal authorities and the center’s operators deny.
Tensions escalated Friday as state police, ICE officers and protesters clashed outside the facility, prompting officials to intervene and set up designated demonstration areas, Mirror America reported.
The latest unrest comes amid growing scrutiny of conditions in immigration detention centers and follows a series of protests that have resulted in multiple arrests.
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Authorities begin clearing protest areas
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced Friday that state police would take control of the situation and set up a separate barricaded area for demonstrators.
However, some protesters reportedly refused to be relocated and instead staged a sit-in outside the detention center. As authorities tried to clear the area, there were reports of police using tear gas and batons to disperse the crowds.
Davenport said in an update the next morning that law enforcement had “temporarily cleared” the area around Delaney Hall.
New Jersey State Police Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz also said ICE officials agreed to withdraw and state police assumed responsibility for managing the protests.
Governor calls for de-escalation
New Jersey Governor Mickey Sherrill spoke at a news conference urging all parties to de-escalate tensions as demonstrations continued.
“It has become unsafe and that is completely unacceptable,” Sherrill said. “We need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature.”
According to reports, more than a dozen people have been arrested since the protests began about a week ago.
Claims over detention center conditions
The demonstrations were largely sparked by allegations about conditions inside Delaney Hall. Protesters and advocacy groups claim detainees face insufficient food, poor sanitation, limited medical care and barriers to legal aid.
Some activists claim food served at the facility contains worms and basic needs are not adequately met.
this Department of Homeland Security GEO Group, the private contractor that operates Delaney Hall, has denied the allegations.
While authorities say the area outside the detention center has now been cleared, controversy continues over conditions inside the facility and further demonstrations are likely to take place in the coming days.
