Homeland Security slams Democrat NJ Governor after she declares victory for 'solving' problem she created at ICE facility

Published: 00:31, 1 June 2026 | Updated: 00:51, 1 June 2026 The Department of Homeland Security has hit out at New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill after she claimed victory for 'solving' a problem at an embattled ICE facility that officials say she helped create in the first place. Sherrill, a Democrat, posted on social media Sunday that visitation rights will resume for the 1,000 migrants being held at Delaney Hall in Newark, where anti-ICE protesters clashed with federal authorities over the weekend. 'DHS has met our demands to restore family visitation,' she posted. 'Starting today, limited visitation will resume at noon and regular visitation hours will be restored beginning tomorrow.'  Sherrill then urged protesters 'to lower the temperature and protest peacefully so we can continue making progress for families and detainees while avoiding any ICE escalation that would only create more fear and uncertainty in our communities.' But the Department of Homeland Security has claimed visitation rights were instead restored after officials were finally able to get the riots under control - after Sherrill and allies helped fan the flames. 'We did not cave to the governor's demands,' a spokesperson for the department told the New York Post.  'Visitation was suspended because the violent riots outside the facility made it unsafe for our officers, detainees' families and lawyers to visit the facility,' the spokesperson continued. 'With Delaney Hall secure, ICE operations continue as normal.' The Homeland Security spokesperson claimed that when Sherrill finally sent in state police to quell the chaos, the facility was able to function as normal.   'To be clear: Visitation was only suspended because of violent riots. Now that we have a secure perimeter, visitation can resume,' he reiterated. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill claimed on Sunday that the Department of Homeland Security 'met' her demands to once again allow visitation at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center Sherrill made the announcement on social media as she urged protesters 'to lower the temperature and protest peacefully so we can continue making progress for families and detainees while avoiding any ICE escalation that would only create more fear and uncertainty in our communities' The privately-run ICE facility became the epicenter of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement following reports that up to 300 detainees have gone on hunger strike to bring attention to their alleged mistreatment and the poor conditions. Sherrill, along with New Jersey Senator Andy Kim and Representative Rob Menendez, then tried to visit the facility on Memorial Day. They had claimed they were trying to gain access for a routine inspection of the facility, but were denied entrance - sparking the mass protests. The demonstrations then came to a head over the weekend, when demonstrators were seen hurling rocks and fighting with federal agents. Three officers were also bitten by a crazed protester on Thursday night, and a cinder block was also thrown at an ICE patrol car, shattering its windshield. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said on X on Friday that the protester had been arrested and charged, as he vowed to crack down on all hostile demonstrations.  'The Trump Administration will ALWAYS stand with our federal law enforcement officers,' Mullin wrote, alongside images of the officers' bloody bite marks.  'Anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey became the epicenter of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement following reports that up to 300 detainees have gone on hunger strike On Friday night, New Jersey State Police used tear gas and stun grenades as they cleared protestors from outside Delaney Hall  An anti-ICE protester was seen kicking a tear gas canister at New Jersey State Police on Friday Chaotic protests outside a New Jersey immigration facility led officials to withdraw Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as the clashes threatened to spiral out of control In response, Sherrill said she was setting up designated protest zones and checkpoints outside the facility, saying officials 'need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature.' 'It has grown unsafe, and that’s completely unacceptable,' Sherrill said, as she claimed outsiders were creating the violence and chaos.    'Five of the six people arrested last night by state police were from outside New Jersey, and some national extremist groups have become involved in the protest here today,' she said at a Saturday afternoon briefing. State officials said one person was charged with disorderly conduct and endangering another person, while the remaining five faced charges including disorderly conduct and obstruction.  According to New Jersey State Police, four of those arrested were from New York, one was from Pennsylvania and only one was a New Jersey resident. A protestor holds a sign saying 'SHAME' as a New Jersey State Police officer blocked a road outside Delaney Hall on Friday Authorities alleged that a group of masked protesters charged police lines, threw projectiles, used police barriers as weapons and set tires on fire before officers were able to disperse the crowd and secure the area around the facility The New Jersey governor then delivered a direct message to those she accused of traveling to Newark to inflame tensions. 'To the people coming from out of state to create chaos and dangerous situations: you should not be here. You are not helping the people detained at Delaney Hall.' But another three people were arrested during Saturday night's unrest, including one person accused of unlawfully possessing a weapon, according to NBC News. Authorities also alleged that a group of masked protesters charged police lines, threw projectiles, used police barriers as weapons and set tires on fire before officers were able to disperse the crowd and secure the area around the facility. At the same time, video circulating on social media Saturday appeared to show the anti-ICE demonstrators confronting individuals associated with the Proud Boys. Pro-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstrators gathered outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday A member of the Proud Boys carried a flag outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark Video posted to social media on Saturday appeared to show individuals with the Proud Boys being chased away from the Delaney Hall protest area by anti-ICE demonstrators Pro-immigration activists beat drums, waved signs and chanted slogans demanding the closure of Delaney Hall, arguing detainees were being subjected to unsafe and inhumane treatment. Supporters of ICE answered with American flags, pro-enforcement signs and chants of 'USA.' Police had established separate demonstration areas for rival groups after approximately 200 supporters of ICE and roughly 300 anti-ICE demonstrators gathered outside the facility. Fencing and barricades were used to keep the opposing crowds apart. At various points, officers equipped with riot shields guarded entrances to the detention center while federal agents and armored vehicles remained visible nearby. Despite the hostile atmosphere, the two sides largely remained separated throughout the day. By Sunday afternoon, the scene was much calmer as the security perimeter kept demonstrators at a distance from the facility, with barricades and checkpoints separating the roughly 100 anti-ICE demonstrators from the detention center, NBC News reports. New Jersey State Police erected barricades and designated separate protest zones to prevent clashes between the opposing groups. Officers equipped with riot shields guarded entrances  By Sunday afternoon, the scene was much calmer as the security perimeter kept demonstrators at a distance from the facility Still, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced that a curfew would go into effect at midnight Sunday for the half-mile surrounding the facility, and would remain in effect from 9pm to 6am until further notice. 'Due to the escalating situation at Delaney Hall and the increasing need for police intervention, immediate action is required to protect police safety,' he said in a statement, noting: 'Multiple individuals have already been arrested and found in possession of weapons, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.' The Department of Homeland Security has also claimed that federal officers stationed at Delaney Hall have faced assaults, threats and other acts of intimidation during the demonstrations in a 'coordinated campaign of violence against our ICE law enforcement.' The agency further pushed back against claims of mistreatment at the facility, as did the GEO Group - the private company that operates Delaney Hall. It instead said staff recently responded to a detainee altercation using approved control measures, and maintained that all actions complied with federal standards. But when House minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, visited the facility alongside New Jersey Representatives Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Josh Gottheimer visited the detention center on Sunday, they again claimed they witnessed inhumane conditions. 'The conditions of confinement we witnessed firsthand and discussed with approximately two dozen detainees at Delany Hall detention center shock the conscience,' the four House Democrats said in a statement. 'Immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, just and humane,' they continued. 'The Trump administration is doing the exact opposite.'  The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.