Protests continued outside the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, following a weekend marked by clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.In response to escalating tensions, Newark Mayor Ras J.Baraka implemented a nightly curfew running from 9 p.m.to 6 a.m., after state officials reported repeated confrontations outside the facility.

The unrest centers on allegations of inhumane conditions inside the privately operated, 1,000-bed detention center, including claims of poor sanitation, inadequate medical care, and spoiled food.

Some attorneys representing detainees said tensions intensified after reports that hundreds of detainees had engaged in a hunger strike, although the Department of Homeland Security disputed those claims.

During Saturday night’s demonstrations, mounted officers and riot-equipped police moved into crowds as tear gas was deployed, and both protesters and counterprotesters engaged in confrontations.Officials stated that some individuals used projectiles and set fires in the street, prompting arrests and dispersal orders.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced that state police would take over public safety operations outside the facility and establish a designated protest zone to reduce conflict.She also confirmed that limited family visitation had resumed at the facility following federal compliance with her request.

Federal officials and DHS representatives rejected allegations of mistreatment, calling some claims misleading and politically motivated, while insisting detainees receive adequate care.Meanwhile, local and federal lawmakers, including members of Congress, visited the site and raised concerns about living conditions.

Authorities emphasized ongoing efforts to balance the constitutional right to protest with maintaining public safety as tensions remain high around the facility.