New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is drawing criticism after suggesting federal immigration agents provoked violent protests outside a Newark detention facility, despite masked demonstrators attacking police officers with projectiles and setting fires in the streets.
Governor Points Finger at Federal Agents
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Sherrill claimed that ICE agents were “really inciting a lot of this” during protests at Delaney Hall, a regional detention facility in Newark. The governor urged federal agents to “stay out of there,” arguing their presence escalated tensions among what she described as largely peaceful demonstrators. Her comments came days before a Saturday night protest turned violent, with masked individuals hurling projectiles at law enforcement and igniting tires.
During Saturday’s incident, attackers used security barriers as weapons against Newark and New Jersey State Police officers. Sherrill acknowledged in a Sunday statement that these “aggressive and dangerous actions” put both peaceful protesters and law enforcement in danger. Police officers at the scene were not wearing protective gear, having been present since early morning to facilitate safe areas for demonstrators.
Out-of-State Agitators Identified
The governor revealed that five of six people arrested Friday night by state police came from outside New Jersey. Sherrill stated that “people from outside the state have been interfering in the protests and escalating them.” This revelation raised questions about the organic nature of the demonstrations and suggested coordinated involvement by external actors traveling to New Jersey specifically for the protests.
Continued Advocacy Despite Violence
In her Sunday statement, Sherrill maintained her focus on detention facility conditions rather than condemning the violent actors. She called for restoring visitation rights for detained immigrants, ensuring medical care access, and ultimately closing Delaney Hall. The governor wrote that she would not let “dangerous actions detract from New Jersey’s dedication to ensuring public safety, keeping people safe from ICE, and that the people detained inside Delaney Hall are treated with dignity.”
Sherrill urged supporters to “bring the temperature down” while continuing advocacy for detainees and their families. Her statement prioritized protecting “peaceful protestors” and improving detention conditions over addressing the violence that erupted outside the facility, drawing sharp criticism from those who believe she should have more forcefully condemned the attacks on law enforcement officers.
