New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill is facing criticism from Republican opponents who say she failed to adequately deploy state police resources at Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark before clashes erupted between protesters and federal immigration officials, despite her administration controlling the law enforcement agency.
The unrest occurred outside the privately operated immigration detention center as demonstrators protested conditions at the facility. During Fox News Digital's reporting at the scene through Thursday of last week, there were few visits by marked New Jersey State Police vehicles, an agency under Sherrill's control. Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka's sanctuary city policies were also evident in the scarcity of Newark police cruisers around the facility.
On Saturday, Sherrill stated that five of six people arrested Friday were from Pennsylvania and New York — the latter state just a few miles from the protest site. She attributed the violence to out-of-state agitators rather than local protesters or her administration's handling of the situation.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican critics rejected Sherrill's framing and argued her administration created conditions for chaos through inadequate preparation. Alex Zdan, who listed border security among his top issues and was considered the front-runner in Tuesday's Republican Senate primary to challenge Sen. Cory Booker, called out Sherrill directly.
Governor Sherrill, you are an arsonist complaining about the fire you helped start. Delaney Hall is under siege, Zdan said in a statement. He added: Our brave state troopers are in harm's way, and all you can do is complain to the media about outside agitators? Who asked them to go there, Governor?
Zdan argued that political rhetoric from Sherrill, Kim, and Booker created conditions for confrontation. This is your mess. Own it. Restore order now, he stated.
By Thursday night, Fox News Digital reported the first visible pair of New Jersey State Police cruisers appeared near the facility — conducting a checkpoint under the Pulaski Skyway and patrolling near an Ironbound bus garage south of Delaney Hall on Doremus Avenue. By the weekend, Sherrill's police were out in force with riot gear, including mounted officers among their ranks.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic officials pointed to peaceful demonstrations as evidence against characterizing all protesters as violent actors. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport suggested most agitators had been peaceful while condemning a group wearing gas masks and helmets that deliberately refused to comply with orders and put the public at risk, though she later characterized the overall demonstration as overwhelmingly peaceful protesters shining a light on conditions at Delaney Hall.
Davenport stated: We will continue to protect the constitutional right to peaceably protest, and we denounce any violent conduct that interferes with peaceful protesting. Her office sought to distinguish between lawful demonstrators exercising First Amendment rights and those engaging in criminal behavior.
Homeland Security Investigations Newark Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas addressed specific threats made against federal officers, saying calling for murder of a federal law enforcement officer and his family is not speech safeguarded by the Constitution; it is a grave criminal offense that will not be tolerated. The DOJ announced charges against 27-year-old Nicholas Matthew Scelfo, accused of shouting epithets at ICE personnel and threatening to murder an officer and his family after allegedly obtaining the officer's identity.
What the Numbers Show
Fox News Digital documented limited law enforcement presence at the scene through Thursday of last week before state police deployment increased by the weekend. Five of six people arrested Friday night came from Pennsylvania and New York rather than New Jersey, according to Sherrill's office. Nicholas Matthew Scelfo, charged with threatening an ICE officer, appears tied to both New Jersey and New York — described as being of Morristown residence while also listed as being of Brooklyn in DOJ charging documents.
Department of Homeland Security officials stated that as of Monday, the perimeter around the center was fully closed, with federal authorities continuing to prosecute suspects who obstruct proceedings. ICE had repeatedly rebuffed protesters who confronted vehicles and transport vans on Doremus Avenue.
The Bottom Line
The incident has become a point of contention in New Jersey politics less than a year before competitive Senate and gubernatorial elections. Efforts to reach Mayor Baraka and Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones prior to state police arrival were unsuccessful, while Sherrill's office did not immediately return a request for comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.
What happens next could shape the political trajectory of both parties heading into November contests. Republicans are seeking to tie Democratic leadership to chaos at immigration facilities, while Democrats point to criminal charges against specific individuals as evidence that law enforcement responded appropriately to isolated bad actors rather than peaceful protesters exercising constitutionally protected rights.