Sherrill Faces First Major Crisis at Delaney Hall Facility
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who took office in January 2026, is confronting her first major crisis in office as tensions escalate at the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark. The crisis encompasses a hunger and labor strike by over 300 detainees, weeks of sometimes-violent protests, deployment of New Jersey State Police in riot gear, use of tear gas and pepper spray, and a bitter political battle between state Democratic officials and the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Background: A Facility at the Center of Controversy
Delaney Hall is a 1,000-bed private immigration detention center in Newark’s Ironbound industrial district, operated by GEO Group under a 15-year, $1 billion contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The facility, which reopened in February 2025 after being closed since 2017, is now the largest detention center on the East Coast. Newark sued GEO Group in March 2025, alleging the facility lacked a valid certificate of occupancy, according to Wikipedia.
The current crisis follows a previous flashpoint in May 2025, when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested by federal agents at Delaney Hall during an oversight visit by three Democratic U.S. Representatives. Baraka was charged with trespassing—charges later dropped—while Representative LaMonica McIver was charged with three counts of assaulting federal officers, which she rejected as political intimidation.
The Hunger Strike and Escalating Protests
On or around May 22, 2026, approximately 300 detainees at Delaney Hall began a hunger and labor strike, demanding better conditions and their release. Detainees issued letters detailing poor conditions including maggot-ridden food, denial of medical care, and lack of access to attorneys.
On Memorial Day, May 25, Governor Sherrill, Senator Andy Kim, and several representatives attempted to visit Delaney Hall for an inspection. According to an official statement from the Governor’s Office, Sherrill’s request for access was “formally denied” by ICE. “My request for access to Delaney Hall was formally denied this morning, raising serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view,” Sherrill said.
State Police Deployment and Violent Clashes
On May 30, violent clashes erupted between protesters and law enforcement. New Jersey State Police asserted control outside the facility under Governor Sherrill’s orders, deploying tear gas and pepper spray. Sherrill blamed “outside agitators” for the violence, stating people were “coming from out of state to create chaos and dangerous situations.” A local news crew from NBC New York was pulled from their vehicle and exposed to tear gas.
According to Democracy Now!, state police in riot gear used flashbangs, tear gas, smoke bombs, and mounted horses against protesters. Mutual aid workers reported feeling “very trapped” as police pushed crowds toward their tent.
A Battle Over Credit and Competing Narratives
On May 31, Sherrill announced a victory: visitation rights were restored at Delaney Hall. However, DHS pushed back sharply. As reported by the New York Post, a DHS spokesperson stated: “We did not cave to the Governor’s demands. Visitation was suspended because the violent riots outside the facility made it unsafe. Now that we have a secure perimeter, visitation can resume.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries visited the facility with New Jersey representatives, issuing a statement that “the conditions of confinement we witnessed firsthand… shock the conscience.”
DHS Denies Allegations
On May 29, DHS released a “CORRECT THE RECORD” press release, accusing “sanctuary politicians” of spreading “categorically false smears” about Delaney Hall. According to the DHS official press release, Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated: “No lawbreakers in the history of human civilization have been better treated than illegal aliens.” DHS denied there was a hunger strike, claimed all detainees receive three meals a day, and denied protesters were struck by pepper ball projectiles.
Legal Action and Political Fallout
On June 2, Governor Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced a lawsuit against GEO Group, citing health concerns and the state Department of Health being denied full access to the facility. Newark Mayor Baraka also filed a separate lawsuit against GEO Group. DHS responded by calling the lawsuit “frivolous.”
By June 4, at least 90 people had been arrested during the protests, according to the New York Times.
Growing Pressure from the Left
On June 5, protesters rallied outside the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton with signs reading “U made it worse” and “Hey, Mikie, WTF?” As The Guardian reported, progressive groups called for Sherrill’s resignation. Protester Sameer Khetan described the situation as “about as gross a betrayal of these families [of detainees] and her voters as you can get.”
Sherrill announced $12 million in additional funding for the Detention Deportation Defense Initiative and told WNYC callers that if state police “crossed lines,” the state attorney general would investigate.
Analysis: A Political Tightrope
Governor Sherrill faces a uniquely challenging political situation. From the right, the Trump administration and conservative media portray her as a “sanctuary” governor whose rhetoric incited violence. From the left, progressive activists accuse her of betraying campaign promises by deploying state police who used tear gas against protesters and arrested journalists.
The deployment of state police in Newark carries echoes of the 1967 Newark rebellion, where state police and National Guard deployment resulted in 27 deaths—a historical resonance noted by analysts covering the crisis.
What’s Next
As of June 7, the situation remains unresolved. Key questions include whether Sherrill will eventually be granted access to Delaney Hall, the outcome of the lawsuits against GEO Group, the fate of the hunger strike, and how this crisis will affect Sherrill’s political future and New Jersey’s sanctuary policies. Internal data shows that of 591 people held at Delaney Hall, 13% had criminal convictions and 21% had pending criminal charges.
This crisis is likely to define Sherrill’s early tenure and could become a significant campaign issue in the 2026 midterms, serving as a microcosm of the national battle over immigration enforcement under the second Trump administration.