NEWARK, N.J. — In a move highlighting growing concerns over federal immigration enforcement tactics, New Jersey officials announced Friday that state police would be taking over public safety operations outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center.

The decision follows escalating tensions between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and protesters demonstrating in support of detained immigrants engaged in a hunger and labor strike within the facility. Reports have surfaced of ICE officers using pepper spray, tasers, and physical force against demonstrators, raising serious questions about the proportionality and justification of their actions.

The detainees at Delaney Hall, operated by the private prison company the GEO Group, are protesting what they describe as “inhumane” conditions, including inadequate food and medical care. Their demands include improved treatment and resolution of their immigration cases. The hunger and labor strike, now in its eighth day, represents a desperate attempt to draw attention to their plight.

The state police takeover, according to Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, will involve the establishment of a “peaceful protected zone” for demonstrators. This suggests a recognition of the protesters' right to assemble and express their grievances, a right that has seemingly been challenged by ICE's heavy-handed response.

However, questions remain about the scope and limitations of this “protected zone.” Advocates are concerned that the state police may still be used to suppress dissent, particularly if protesters step outside the designated area. The lack of clarity on whether the state police will arrest protesters who exit the “protected zone” raises concerns about potential violations of the state's “sanctuary” policy, which aims to limit collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE.

The announcement also coincides with reports of an influx of federal agents to Delaney Hall, including agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). This deployment, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) source, is intended to “defend” the facility and investigate protesters for alleged assaults against ICE officials. The presence of HSI agents, who were observed guarding the facility on Friday, marks a new development in the situation.

Critics argue that the federal government's response reflects a broader pattern of prioritizing immigration enforcement over the well-being and rights of detainees and those who advocate for them. The use of private prison companies like the GEO Group, which profits from detention, has also drawn criticism for creating incentives to maximize the number of people held in immigration detention.