New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced on Friday afternoon that New Jersey state police would establish a “peaceful protest zone” outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, where protesters and ICE officers have repeatedly clashed this week.
”We all need to do everything we can to cool things down now,” Sherrill said at a press conference announcing the plan. “I will not give ICE the pretext to expand operations in our state.”
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday afternoon. But state officials made clear their goal was for ICE to no longer be involved in security operations outside Delaney Hall.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said, “Our state police will be taking public safety operations over from ICE outside Delaney Hall this afternoon.”
“ We really feel like adding ICE to this situation has made things less safe.” Sherrill later added. “ Right now, we are working to, make sure we get ICE out of the situation.”
The decision comes after state and local police have largely remained away from the scene at Delaney Hall. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said the state and local authorities refused ICE requests for assistance.
On Thursday night, state police directed traffic around Delaney Hall, in an effort to protect protesters after one was struck by a vehicle, according to Sherrill and New Jersey State Police Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz. Gothamist saw state police vehicles near the site.
Sierotowicz said, moving forward, there will be “checkpoints” going into Delaney Hall, and large protest zones, encircled by 600 yards of bicycle racks.
Sherill added that areas would also be set up for pro-ICE protesters as well, in expectation of a rally in support of the agency on Saturday morning.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
