Gov. Mikie Sherrill called for peaceful protest Sunday after two nights of violent clashes outside Newark's Delaney Hall immigration detention center. Demonstrators hurled projectiles, set fires and fought police barricades, prompting the New Jersey State Police and Newark officers to deploy tear gas and flash‑bang grenades. The unrest follows a week of protests over alleged poor living conditions inside the facility.

Mayor Ras Baraka imposed a half‑mile curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., notifying residents via cellphone alerts. Police sealed off Doremus Avenue, erected metal barricades and used riot gear to push back crowds. Six protesters were arrested Friday, including four from New York and one from Pennsylvania, after state troopers assumed control following the withdrawal of federal agents.

Sherrill blamed “extremist groups” from out of state for escalating the situation, saying they distract from improving detainee treatment and the goal of eventually closing the center. While officials denied a hunger strike, they confirmed a recent inmate fight that required medical evaluation. The governor reaffirmed her focus on restoring family visitation and medical care for detainees, refusing to let the external chaos derail those objectives.