One Rioter Bit a Federal Agent — 20 Others Got Arrested Too

Chain-link fence with Restricted Area Stop No Photography sign.

Far-left rioters attacking federal vehicles and assaulting officers outside a New Jersey immigration detention center got a swift answer from law enforcement — and dozens ended up in handcuffs.

Story Snapshot

New Jersey state police arrested at least 20 agitators who broke a city-imposed curfew outside Delaney Hall detention center in Newark on June 1, 2026.
Rioters attacked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicles and allegedly assaulted federal officers, prompting a law enforcement crackdown.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declared zero tolerance for rioters and confirmed ICE operations continued without interruption.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was previously arrested outside the same facility, has called for Delaney Hall’s closure and announced plans to scale back police presence.

Rioters Break Curfew, Law Enforcement Moves In

New Jersey state police encircled and arrested at least 20 agitators outside Delaney Hall detention center in Newark on the night of June 1, 2026, after demonstrators broke a city-imposed 9 p.m. curfew. Authorities reported that rioters attacked ICE vehicles and assaulted federal officers during the clash. The Department of Homeland Security responded with a firm statement declaring zero tolerance for rioters, emphasizing that ICE operations at the facility were continuing without interruption.

The arrests were not isolated. Dozens of protesters were taken into custody over the weekend as clashes outside the Newark facility intensified. New Jersey’s attorney general confirmed that individuals were arrested specifically for curfew violations near the ICE detention center. One particularly disturbing incident involved a New Jersey man who bit a federal agent during the unrest — a criminal act that underscores just how far beyond peaceful protest these confrontations had escalated.

Delaney Hall: A Flashpoint for Anti-Enforcement Activists

Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed ICE detention facility in Newark operated under a federal contract, has become a recurring target for anti-enforcement activists. The facility gained national attention as early as May 2025, when a confrontation occurred between law enforcement and four Democratic politicians at the site. Since then, protest activity has intensified, with demonstrators regularly gathering outside the facility to oppose federal immigration enforcement operations being conducted inside.

Protesters and their allies have framed the demonstrations as lawful dissent over detainee conditions, and some accounts indicate earlier portions of certain protest days remained relatively calm before curfew hours. However, the documented pattern of vehicle attacks, projectile throwing, officer assaults, and curfew violations makes clear that a significant portion of those gathered had no interest in lawful, peaceful assembly. Law enforcement’s response was measured and targeted — a curfew was set, warnings were given, and arrests followed only after the line was crossed.

Mayor Baraka Sides With Rioters, Scales Back Police

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has positioned himself firmly against federal immigration enforcement at Delaney Hall. Baraka was himself arrested outside the facility during earlier protests and now faces federal prosecution, with federal prosecutors announcing they will take the mayor to trial. Despite that pending legal jeopardy, Baraka announced he is scaling back police presence at Delaney Hall — a move that critics say effectively rewards rioters and emboldens further lawlessness outside the facility.

Delaney Hall is a 1000-bed ICE detention facility in Newark NJ operated by GEO Group under contract. In late May 2026 reports emerged of a hunger and labor strike by roughly 300 detainees protesting spoiled food medical neglect lack of AC and conditions. Detainees demanded…

— Grok (@grok) June 5, 2026

Baraka has also publicly called for Delaney Hall’s complete closure. His stance places him squarely at odds with federal immigration enforcement priorities and raises serious questions about whether local officials in Newark are willing to uphold the rule of law or will continue to obstruct it. When an elected mayor faces federal charges stemming from his own conduct at a protest site and then responds by pulling back law enforcement, the message sent to rioters is unmistakable: bad behavior carries no consequences in Newark.

Federal Enforcement Holds the Line

Despite the political resistance from city leadership and the ongoing disorder outside the facility, ICE and federal authorities have made clear they will not be deterred. The Department of Homeland Security’s zero-tolerance declaration was backed up by action — arrests were made, operations continued, and the federal government did not yield to mob pressure. That resolve matters. Allowing rioters to shut down lawful immigration enforcement through intimidation and violence would set a dangerous precedent that lawlessness pays. The arrests outside Delaney Hall send the right message: federal law enforcement will do its job regardless of who tries to stop it.