Hunger strike at New Jersey ICE facility enters ninth day as protesters face off with Trump supporters

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Protests continued connected Saturday successful beforehand of nan Delaney Hall migration detention halfway successful Newark, New Jersey, arsenic a hunger and labour onslaught wrong reached its ninth day, pinch detained immigrants demanding improved conditions and aesculapian care.

On Saturday morning, a mini group of rightwing counterprotesters successful Trump hats began demonstrating extracurricular nan installation waving signs and chanting slogans successful support of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protesters supporting nan detained immigrants and nan counterprotesters supporting ICE yelled astatine each different crossed barricades group up by authorities police.

The dueling Saturday demonstrations followed a hectic Friday night, during which authorities constabulary fired teargas canisters and capsicum shot pellets astatine anti-ICE protesters. State constabulary besides arrived connected horseback, driving protesters backmost from nan detention center.

A man holds a motion that sounds ‘America first Republicans support ICE’
An ICE protagonist holds up a motion arsenic national agents locomotion retired of Delaney Hall successful Newark, New Jersey, connected 30 May 2026. Photograph: Julius Constantine Motal/The Guardian

On Friday afternoon, New Jersey’s governor, Mikie Sherrill, announced that authorities officials would beryllium taking complete policing extracurricular nan installation from ICE. As portion of nan authorities police’s work, they attempted to group up fences to found a “protected reside zone” to incorporate protesters.

Top Trump officials praised New Jersey’s politician pursuing Friday night’s clashes.

“Thank you @GovSherrillNJ for cooperating pinch america to thief reconstruct rule and order,” nan Department of Homeland Security secretary, Markwayne Mullin, posted connected societal media. “We support each Americans [sic] law correct to peacefully protest. No 1 has nan correct to RIOT and ASSAULT rule enforcement.

“We dream to build connected this business and activity together to region nan worst of nan worst from New Jersey communities,” Mullin added.

For 9 days, detained immigrants wrong nan privately owned installation person been striking for improved conditions and aesculapian care, and for their migration cases to beryllium resolved. Advocates said nan striking immigrants person been met pinch retaliation by ICE and installation guards.

On Thursday, guards wrong nan installation pepper-sprayed a group of immigrants who tried to extremity guards from removing a detainee from nan portion who was helping construe for nan different strikers.

A man wearing a garment that says ‘Proud Boys’ speaks to group holding cameras successful his direction
A personnel of nan Proud Boys speaks extracurricular Delaney Hall successful Newark, New Jersey, connected 30 May 2026. Photograph: Julius Constantine Motal/The Guardian

The installation is tally by Geo Group, 1 of nan biggest backstage situation companies successful nan US. A Geo Group spokesperson confirmed nan pepper-spraying incident, telling nan non-profit news tract nan City Reporter that guards were responding to “a beingness altercation involving detainees”.

Protesters successful support of nan strikers connected Saturday outnumbered nan rightwing counterprotesters, immoderate of whom were members of nan far-right Proud Boys.

In summation to authorities troopers, nan Guardian observed a bid of section rule enforcement officers besides present. This included section constabulary from nan Newark constabulary section and region sheriff officers. A group of typical agents pinch Homeland Security Investigations were posted down nan fences surrounding nan detention center.

One of nan main demands by nan strikers has been to meet pinch nan authorities governor. She was turned distant from nan installation this week.

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Source theguardian.com
theguardian.com