Four migrant detainees remain at large after escaping a Newark ICE detention facility during a riot that sparked violent clashes between protesters and federal agents outside the controversial Delaney Hall center.
At a Glance
- At least four migrant detainees escaped from Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark, NJ, after a riot involving approximately 50 detainees
- The unrest was reportedly triggered by complaints about food quality and timeliness of meals
- Detainees fashioned a rope from bedsheets to escape from their third-floor dormitory
- Anti-ICE protesters clashed with federal agents outside the facility, with demonstrators attempting to shake and block facility gates
- DHS and FBI have announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the capture of escaped detainees
Detainee Escape and Facility Riot
A manhunt is underway after at least four migrant detainees escaped from the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark following a riot that erupted on Thursday. According to law enforcement sources, approximately 50 detainees took control of parts of the facility during the uprising. The detainees reportedly became enraged over complaints about meal quality and timing, with some using bedsheets to create makeshift ropes for their escape from a third-floor dormitory.
The Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation have jointly announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the escaped individuals. Multiple police agencies responded to the incident at the facility, which opened in May following a $900 million deal with the Trump administration. The GEO Group-operated detention center has been a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement.
Violent Protests Erupt Outside Facility
As news of the escape spread, anti-ICE protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall, blocking law enforcement and ICE vehicles attempting to enter or exit the facility. Video footage captured demonstrators shaking the gates of the detention center before law enforcement officials opened the gates and forcefully pushed them back. The confrontation quickly escalated into physical altercations between federal agents and protesters.
Law enforcement officials repeatedly instructed protesters to move to the “other side of the line” and to “get up and go” as tensions mounted. Some protesters used megaphones to hurl insults at federal agents, further inflaming the situation. Reports indicated that pepper spray was deployed against some protesters, and at least one demonstrator was detained and brought inside the facility.
Political Fallout and Ongoing Controversy
The incident at Delaney Hall comes amid continued controversy surrounding the facility. U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) was recently charged with assaulting an officer during a previous incident at the detention center. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced charges against McIver for allegedly “assaulting, resisting, and impeding law enforcement officers,” which McIver has characterized as “a brazen attempt at political intimidation.”
“At least four migrant detainees are unaccounted for after a riot broke out at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Newark, NJ, where detainees took control of parts of the facility”, according to sources and reports.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was previously arrested for trespassing at the facility before having charges dropped, has criticized the federal government’s handling of the situation. Baraka claimed some detainees escaped “by kicking through an interior wall.” The Delaney Hall facility operates under a $60 million contract with the Trump administration and has faced ongoing scrutiny over work permits and safety concerns. ICE has not yet issued an official comment regarding the escape or the subsequent protests.
