(NEWARK, NEW JERSEY) – Protesters clashed with ICE agents outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark on Monday, with some demonstrators throwing water, shouting at agents and trying to form a human chain at the facility entrance.

ICE agents detained several protesters during the confrontation. Video from the scene showed agents taking protesters into custody outside the facility.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill tried to enter Delaney Hall but officials denied her access. She said the refusal “raised serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view.”

The protest centered on conditions inside Delaney Hall, which demonstrators and local officials have described as appalling. The detention center has become a flashpoint in Newark as criticism of the facility has drawn elected officials and street protests to its gates.

Monday’s confrontation unfolded at the entrance to Delaney Hall, where protesters pressed toward the facility while ICE agents blocked access. Some demonstrators tried to link themselves in a human chain as shouting continued outside the center.

Sherrill’s attempt to enter the building added a political dimension to an already tense scene. Her statement after being turned away sharpened scrutiny of the facility and of the restrictions around who can gain access inside.

Delaney Hall has already seen similar confrontations this month. A protest on June 14, 2025 also ended in clashes between protesters and ICE agents outside the same facility.

That earlier confrontation and Monday’s standoff point to a recurring pattern at Delaney Hall, where immigration enforcement, public protest and local political pressure have collided in front of the building rather than behind closed doors.

Monday’s protest again focused attention on the detention center itself, not only on the federal agents stationed outside it. Demonstrators and local officials have kept their criticism fixed on what they describe as conditions inside the facility.

The confrontation also underscored how Delaney Hall has become one of the most visible immigration flashpoints in New Jersey. The center now sits at the intersection of federal detention policy, local opposition and direct action by protesters willing to challenge ICE agents at the gate.

Several protesters ended the day in ICE custody. Sherrill left after being denied entry, saying the refusal itself demanded an explanation from those running the facility.