Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the FBI has arrested a man accused of threatening to kill ICE officers and their families during protests outside a New Jersey immigration detention center.
The arrest came after video circulated from demonstrations outside Delaney Hall in Newark, where protesters and federal agents clashed during several nights of unrest.
Blanche had previously said the individual seen in the video would be identified and arrested.
On Friday, he posted on X that the FBI had arrested the man accused of making the threats.
TRENDING TODAY
The individual has not yet been publicly identified.
The video appeared to show a protester shouting threats toward an ICE officer during the confrontation outside the facility.
Blanche said threatening a federal officer and his family is a federal crime.
The arrest follows days of escalating protests at Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention facility that has become a major flashpoint in the national fight over ICE enforcement and detention conditions.
DHS said protesters outside the facility assaulted federal agents during Thursday night clashes.
According to the department, agents were bitten, kicked and punched as they attempted to secure the area around the detention center.
Federal agents used pepper spray as demonstrators blocked access points and confronted officers near the facility.
DHS said nine people were arrested Thursday night during the clashes.
The unrest began after detainees raised complaints about conditions inside Delaney Hall, including allegations related to medical care, food and due process.
DHS has denied those claims, saying detainees have access to meals, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, toiletries and phones to contact family members and lawyers.
The department has also denied claims of an ongoing hunger strike at the facility.
The protests have drawn attention from Democratic officials and immigration activists, while federal officials have accused local leaders of failing to provide enough support for law enforcement.
DHS officials said local and state police were contacted during the unrest, but federal agents received limited assistance.
The arrest announced by Blanche marks an escalation in the federal response to threats made during the protests.
Federal authorities are expected to continue investigating additional threats and assaults connected to the Delaney Hall demonstrations.
Why It Matters
The arrest shows federal officials are treating threats against ICE officers and their families as serious criminal matters. It also raises the stakes around the Delaney Hall protests, where clashes between demonstrators and federal agents have already led to multiple arrests.
What Comes Next
Federal officials are expected to release more information about the suspect and potential charges. Protests may continue outside Delaney Hall, while DHS and Justice Department officials pursue cases tied to assaults, threats and obstruction of federal officers.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the FBI arrested the man accused of threatening ICE officers and their families during the Delaney Hall protests.
Told you. @FBI just arrested the man who threatened to kill ICE officers and their families. FAFO. https://t.co/ai2Y46nmOR
— Acting AG Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) May 30, 2026
