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The move came after another night of standoffs between law
enforcement and demonstrators at the facility, as protesters
could be seen in photographs and videos fighting over barricades
as police used riot shields to push them back. A video posted on
social media showed police on horseback marching into crowds
attempting to break up groups of protesters.
The high-profile demonstrations at Delaney Hall began earlier
this month after advocates said detainees inside launched a
hunger strike over poor living conditions at the 1,000-bed
facility, the latest hotbed of opposition over the federal
government's immigration crackdown.
New Jersey state police on Friday relieved federal immigration
enforcement agents who had been facing off against protesters at
the facility for days.
In a statement Sunday morning, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill
said masked individuals attacked a barrier in a designated
protest area set up by state police and were “throwing
projectiles, utilizing the barriers as weapons, and lighting
tires on fire in the street.”
“These actions put both peaceful protestors and law enforcement
in danger,” Sherrill said, urging calm to focus on advocating
for “better conditions for the detainees, for their families,
and ultimately, for the closure of Delaney Hall.”
Sherrill also said that the federal government has reopened
family visits at Delaney Hall starting Sunday.
Asked about visitations resuming, the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security provided a statement that said “To be clear:
Visitation was only suspended because of violent riots. Now that
we have a secure perimeter, visitation can resume.”
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