Newark Mayor’s Decision to Scale Back Police Presence at Delaney Hall

The mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, has announced a decision to reduce the city police presence outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center operated by GEO Group, a private prison company. This move comes after two weeks of protests, some of which have escalated into chaos.

Mayor Baraka emphasized the city will not deploy taxpayer funds to protect a private facility, especially as it endangers police officers. He stated, “We cannot allocate our already limited resources to safeguard a privately-owned site at the expense of exposing our officers to unnecessary risks.”

He also took credit for what he termed a “significant reduction in unrest” and mentioned that starting Friday, the police in Newark will concentrate on traffic management and public safety, thereby ensuring the protection of protesters and motorists.

The response of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or New Jersey State Police regarding increased presence at Delaney Hall is unclear. State police typically assist municipal law enforcement upon request, so cooperation would require Newark to reach out. Sean Higgins, spokesman for Gov. Mikie Sherrill, remarked that the governor remains committed to advocating for humane treatment for detainees and their families. He added that everyone protesting should continue to be peaceful.

ICE declared that the perimeter around Delaney Hall remains secure, with no breaches from rioters, and warned that individuals obstructing law enforcement or disrupting operations will face prosecution.