NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey officials announced Friday that the state police will assume responsibility for managing public safety outside the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center, a move coinciding with increased federal agent presence to ensure the facility’s security.

The decision comes amid ongoing protests and a hunger strike by detained immigrants inside Delaney Hall, which is operated by the private prison company, the GEO Group. Demonstrators have gathered outside the facility, leading to clashes with ICE officers that reportedly involved the use of pepper spray, tasers, and physical force.

The state police's involvement, according to Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, aims to establish a “peaceful protected zone” for demonstrators. This is intended to balance the right to protest with the need to maintain order and ensure the safety of law enforcement personnel and the facility itself.

At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is deploying additional agents to Delaney Hall to “defend” the facility and enforce federal immigration law. A DHS source indicated that agents from other agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), are being reassigned to the site. HSI agents will also be investigating protesters for alleged assaults against ICE officials.

The situation underscores the challenges of balancing legitimate protest with the need to uphold the law and maintain national security. The presence of federal agents is crucial to ensuring that ICE can carry out its mission of enforcing immigration laws and detaining individuals who have violated those laws.

Critics of ICE have accused the agency of mistreating detainees and suppressing dissent. However, supporters of strong immigration enforcement argue that ICE is essential for maintaining border security and protecting the nation from potential threats. They emphasize the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that those who violate immigration laws are held accountable.

The state police's role in managing the protests will be closely watched to ensure that they do not impede federal law enforcement efforts. It is essential that the state police cooperate fully with ICE and other federal agencies to maintain order and protect the facility.