New Jersey officials announced Tuesday they will lift the curfew imposed around Newark’s Delaney Hall immigration detention center after a weekend of violent clashes between demonstrators and state police. Mayor Ras Baraka said the order, triggered by a fire on a nearby road, could be removed as early as Tuesday. The move follows more than a week of escalating protests over detainee conditions.

Police reported 61 arrests on charges of curfew violation, failure to disperse and resisting arrest, but did not release identities. Baraka criticized the state troopers’ tactics, calling them a “sword” that only cuts deeper, and pledged city‑run street teams of clergy and activists to maintain order. The governor’s office shifted responsibility to Newark, emphasizing peaceful protest and detainee safety.

Attorney General Jennifer Davenport filed a lawsuit Tuesday demanding full health‑inspector access to the privately‑run facility, operated by GEO Group, which holds a $1 billion federal contract. The state alleges the company barred inspectors from medical, sleeping and sanitation areas, violating New Jersey law. Baraka warned the denial fuels the city’s effort to close Delaney Hall, arguing the site operates illegally without local approval.