Authorities arrested more than 80 people during two weeks of volatile protests at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark. Clashes between demonstrators, federal agents, and state troopers escalated after protesters opposed a federal immigration crackdown. Most arrests occurred Sunday night when participants violated a 9 p.m. curfew established by the mayor following a roadway fire.

Legal disputes now center on the severity of the charges. Many detainees face a fourth-degree riot charge, which is an indictable offense carrying a maximum 18 month prison sentence. Defense attorneys argue these cases are weak because police used boilerplate language rather than detailing individual actions, failing to establish probable cause for the arrests.

Governor Mikie Sherrill initially joined protesters on Memorial Day to demand dignity for detainees. However, she later called for calm after violence erupted on Saturday. The incident highlights the volatility surrounding one of the largest detention centers in the eastern United States, which holds over a thousand people and remains a focal point for political unrest.

Public defenders criticized Newark police for holding Sunday's detainees at the Essex County Correctional Facility for over 24 hours. This delay is unusual for similar offenses, where suspects typically receive immediate summonses. All arrested protesters were eventually released on Monday night after receiving their summonses.