The scene outside Delaney Hall detention center turned chaotic again Friday night with more clashes between anti-ICE protesters and agents – despite New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s attempt to establish a “peaceful” protest zone.
The mob throughout the evening continued their vile chants and ignored orders from police to disperse or face arrests as law enforcement used tear gas and pepper spray to restrain the unruly crowd, according to footage.
“Kill yourself, quit your job, quit your job,” the rabble-rousers chanted at one point.
NJ State Police riot police deploy tear gas against a crowd of protesters outside Delaney Hall in Newark, on May 29, 2026. Stephen Yang for NY Post
The unrest began over Memorial Day weekend after detainees reported inhumane conditions, including overcrowding. Getty Images
Cops used tear gas and pepper spray as demonstrators chanted vile slogans and breached a protective fence in Newark. Getty Images“F—k ICE,” they barked, labeling federal officers as “murderers.”
ICE agents were seen reaching into crowds of protestors, grabbing them by the shoulders or head, and slamming them into the ground.
A graphic T-clad protester pestered an agent, asking “Why the f–-k do you have an AK out… sorry, an AR?”
“What the f–k is this for?”
New Jersey state police on horseback tried to force the hooligans away from the Newark facility after other cops in full riot gear holding shields held a solid line, the video shows.
Riot police hold up shields blocking the protesters outside the immigration detention center. Stephen Yang for NY Post
A protester covers a tear gas canister with a traffic cone and water during a clash with law enforcement outside Delaney Hall. Stephen Yang for NY Post
Protesters block an ICE vehicle outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center on May 29, 2026. Getty ImagesDemonstrators were seen breaching an orange protective fence at the facility, dragging the barrier to the sides of the street and continuing to trespass.
Sherrill had announced Friday afternoon that the “peaceful” protest zones would be established “immediately” and that “we all need to do everything we can to cool things down now.”
Here’s the latest on the anti-ICE clashes outside Newark’s Delaney Hall
- Pro-ICE protesters back federal agents outside Delaney Hall amid unrest near NJ facility
- Anti-ICE protesters pooling cash for riot gear, military-grade goggles to fuel Newark mayhem
- Delaney Hall anti-ICE clashes rage on – despite NJ gov.’s ‘peaceful’ protest zone
- NJ governor is blocking cops from helping feds at violent Delaney Hall protests, union says: ‘We want to help’
The governor claimed that she will not give ICE “the pretext to expand operations” in New Jersey.
“Our top priority is public safety – and we need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature now,” she added.
New Jersey State Police riot and mounted units were deployed outside Delaney Hall to clear protesters on May 29, 2026. Stephen Yang for NY Post
A protester kicks a tear gas canister as New Jersey State Police clear protestors from outside Delaney Hall which is being used as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center on May 29, 2026 Getty Images
Riot police form a line to block protesters outside Delaney Hall in Newark on May 29, 2026. Stephen Yang for NY PostSherrill deployed New Jersey state police to Delaney Hall on Friday night after being accused of preventing local cops from helping out the feds.
Captain John Chrystal, president of the Newark Police Superior Officers’ Association, told The Post that his department has been effectively handcuffed by the governor.
“Our administration is getting orders from the mayor and from the governor,” Chrystal said earlier Friday.
“From what I’ve been told, police have been told to stand down and it’s a shame could not help control the crowd, and that the administrative debacle was a “political hot potato.”
A protester wearing a hard hat stands near a line of mounted police officers. Stephen Yang for NY Post
New Jersey State Police riot and mounted units were deployed outside Delaney Hall to clear protesters on May 29, 2026. Getty Images
Sparks fly at the feet of New Jersey State Police in riot gear during a clash with protesters outside Delaney Hall on May 29, 2026. Getty ImagesSherrill had said that she would send state police to help establish the peace, saying that the environment has “grown unsafe, and that’s completely unacceptable.”
The protests erupted over Memorial Day weekend after detainees reported inhumane conditions, including extreme overcrowding, low-quality food and limited access to hot water.
The Trump administration has countered that the standard of living at Delaney Hall is higher than most US prisons.
