Tensions escalated outside Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, as anti-ICE protesters clashed with federal agents near the immigration detention facility.
The protest crowd grew to more than 100 people Thursday evening as demonstrators gathered outside the privately operated detention center.
Protesters blocked roads around the facility and confronted federal agents as vehicles attempted to enter and leave the area.
At several points, unmarked federal vehicles tried to move through the crowd, prompting shouting and scuffles between demonstrators and agents.
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One man was seen being dragged to the ground and detained near the facility.
An ICE agent at the scene did not confirm whether the detention would lead to criminal charges.
Additional confrontations were reported as protesters refused to move from areas near the entrance.
One demonstrator was reportedly thrown to the ground during a scuffle, while another was pushed against a truck that became stuck during the chaos.
The clashes come after several days of protests outside Delaney Hall over allegations about conditions inside the detention center.
Activists and some Democratic officials have raised concerns about medical care, food, overcrowding and treatment of detainees.
New Jersey Democrats, including Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Sen. Andy Kim, have criticized the facility and called for greater oversight.
Sherrill attempted to enter the facility earlier this week after reports that detainees had launched a hunger strike, but she was denied access.
She has since called for Delaney Hall to be shut down.
DHS has pushed back strongly against the claims.
The department said there is no current hunger strike at Delaney Hall and accused protesters of interfering with ICE operations.
DHS also said several demonstrators were arrested earlier in the week after allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers.
The protests intensified after Kim said he was struck by pepper-ball spray during a previous confrontation outside the facility.
Earlier this week, demonstrators blocked entrances by linking arms, sitting in roadways and forming human chains to stop vehicles from entering or leaving.
Local police presence appeared limited during the latest protest, while federal agents remained responsible for securing the facility.
The unrest has turned Delaney Hall into a flashpoint in the national fight over immigration enforcement, detention conditions and sanctuary city policies.
Supporters of the protests say they are demanding transparency and humane treatment for detainees.
Federal officials argue that protesters are creating dangerous conditions and obstructing law enforcement operations.
The conflict is likely to continue as activists, lawmakers and DHS offer sharply different accounts of what is happening inside and outside the facility.
Why It Matters
Delaney Hall has become a major immigration flashpoint, combining protests over detention conditions with federal enforcement clashes in a sanctuary city environment. The latest confrontations show how quickly disputes over ICE facilities can escalate into public safety and law enforcement conflicts.
What Comes Next
Federal agents are expected to maintain security around the facility as protests continue. Democratic officials may keep pressing for access and oversight, while DHS is likely to continue denying hunger strike claims and defending ICE operations.
Video from outside Delaney Hall showed federal agents using pepper spray as anti-ICE protesters blocked an entrance to the Newark detention facility.
NOW: Anti-ICE protesters using umbrellas as ICE Agents spray pepper spray and shove people back as crowds continue blocking second entrance at Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in NJ pic.twitter.com/PWsZc0xLVX
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 29, 2026
