‘Out Of Control’ ICE Agents Pepper Sprayed Senator, Sherrill Says

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — After an intense clash at Delaney Hall over Memorial Day Weekend, during which a New Jersey lawmaker was pepper-sprayed, protests continue as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees enter day five of a hunger and labor strike.

On Tuesday, Governor Mikie Sherrill fielded some questions regarding the tensions surrounding Delaney Hall during a press conference.

"Using pepper-spray on a United States senator, at that point, I think, (ICE was) completely out of control... And not working to keep the situation peaceful and thought, I think they were working to incite people," Sherrill said. “When you pepper-spray a United States senator, you are not working to keep people safe. That’s exactly what we’re doing in New Jersey, and we can both keep people safe here and make sure they can express their thoughts and values. If that’s beyond the capabilities of the federal government, that’s just another reason that Delaney Hall needs to close."

The governor added that the state is continuing to explore options in terms of pushing back against ICE activity, including resisting another detention facility in Morris County, and working with the federal delegation.

Sherrill also encouraged anyone who gathers outside Delaney Hall "to do so peacefully."

Earlier Tuesday morning, reports said ICE officers were seen at Delaney Hall “bright and early," joined by protesters chanting, “We want justice, we want peace, we want ICE off our streets.”

The reports add that at least one person was arrested Tuesday morning, with video showing one person being carried out and placed into an ICE-marked vehicle.

More video shows ICE agents pushing back protestors on Tuesday morning as tensions continue to rise. Protestors can be seen singing songs and carrying signs in front of the masked federal agents.

Another shows ICE agents ripping a megaphone from a protester's hands as she was using it to scream it in their faces.

The strike began on Friday, when detainees said they were facing “inhumane” conditions, including bad food, medical neglect, and problems with visitation.

Tensions initially came to a head on Monday when ICE agents blocked off the portion of Doremus Avenue in front of the detention facility in the early morning, using pepper spray and batons against protesters before removing their barricades, demonstrators reported.

Interactions continued to heat up throughout Memorial Day, prompting New Jersey officials, including ICE critic Senator Andy Kim, to make an appearance at Delaney Hall.

"Instead of engaging with me and others about the poor conditions, ICE sent in an armored vehicle and a line of armed agents that only poured gasoline on the fire," said Kim, who was pepper-sprayed by ICE during Monday's clash. "Our country deserves accountability. Our country deserves the humane treatment of every person here. In fact, our Constitution demands this. What I witnessed and experienced today was shameful. Delaney Hall is a failure; it’s this administration’s failure. The only way to make this right for our communities is to shut it down and make sure the failures we’ve seen never happen again.”

Congresswoman Analilia Mejia said the conditions inside Delaney Hall are "inhumane," and that "no one should be subjected to what's happening inside that facility."

Also joining in the fray on Monday was Sherrill, who was denied entry to the jail on Monday. She said she was "deeply disturbed" by reports of the poor conditions at Delaney Hall.

"The fact that (ICE) wouldn't let me in there gives you some sense that there is some 'there' there, and that's really concerning to me," she said Tuesday afternoon.

Local officials have spoken out against the alleged treatment of detainees at Delaney Hall as well, including Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill.

“Those being held in detention centers deserve due process and the right to a fair and free trial,” Gill said. “Under the Trump administration, thousands of individuals who are lawfully following the asylum process have been taken from their communities and detained without cause. Regardless of political beliefs, we must uphold the Constitution and defend the rights it grants.”

Allegations Of Retaliatory Action

On Sunday night, immigration rights organizations rang the bell when Gabriela Soto, a volunteer with Eyes on ICE, reported retaliatory action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement against her husband, Martin Soto.

According to Gabriela, ICE officers questioned Martin, who is among the 300 detained at Delaney Hall, about whether his release would end the protests.

“Agents told him he would be freed, but I saw them forcing him into a van,” Gabriela said in a statement. “They were shoving him inside while he shouted for help. We need people to come and shut this center down. He could be taken away at any moment.”

It was then when protestors began blocking roadways to prevent detainees, including Soto, to be transferred to unknown facilities. Not long after, federal officials went through with the aforementioned closure of Doremus Avenue.

“We need Governor Sherrill here,” said Asma Elhuni, organizer with Resistencia en Accion NJ. “Public statements are not enough. She needs to see the hunger strikers, hear about the conditions they face and listen to our demands to free them all.”

ACLU Slams Feds

The American Civil Liberties Union has slammed ICE and Delaney Hall, saying the detainee's hunger strike is "not isolated," but a "response to longstanding, systematic abuse in immigration detention."

“People detained at Delaney Hall are facing brutal and inhumane conditions. Their families and community members who are protesting their treatment, and the elected officials who are asking to inspect the facility, should not face pepper spray and rubber bullets for doing so." said ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha. "“The calls for closure from officials across all levels of government reflect the will of a state that believes in due process, human dignity, and the rule of law. We urge the federal government to heed those calls, end the obstruction of congressional oversight, and immediately address the conditions that have driven detained people to risk their health and safety to be heard."

Check back with Patch.com for updates on Delaney Hall developments.

— With reporting from Karen Wall and Eric Kiefer

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• Feds Clash With NJ Protesters Outside ICE Prison, Sherrill Denied Visit As Hunger Strike Continues