The city of Newark, New Jersey, is facing heightened tensions as Mayor Ras Baraka announced a curfew around Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center, following a series of confrontations between protestors and law enforcement. The curfew, effective from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., aims to restore order after intense clashes over the facility’s conditions.

Protests and Law Enforcement Response

Protestors have been demonstrating at Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed facility, since earlier this month. The protests were sparked by reports of detainees launching a hunger strike to protest poor living conditions. The situation escalated with demonstrators clashing with police, who used riot shields and mounted officers to disperse the crowds.

New Jersey state police recently took over from federal immigration enforcement agents, who had been managing the protests. Governor Mikie Sherrill condemned the violence, noting that masked individuals attacked barriers and used them as weapons, endangering both peaceful protestors and law enforcement.

Calls for Improved Conditions and Family Visits

Governor Sherrill emphasized the need for calm and urged focus on advocating for better conditions for detainees and their families. In a positive development, the federal government has reopened family visits at Delaney Hall, starting Sunday, providing some relief to families affected by the detention policies.

The situation at Delaney Hall highlights ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement and the treatment of detainees, with local and state officials seeking to balance security and humanitarian concerns.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.