New Jersey says state police will replace federal agents outside ICE facility

Top New Jersey officials announced on Friday that the state police will be taking over policing functions from federal immigration officers outside the contentious Delaney Hall facility , as reports surface of an influx of federal agents making their way to the area. As part of the state police’s takeover of “public safety operations” at the site, they will establish a “peaceful protected zone” for demonstrators and will have protesters “move there today”, according to New Jersey’s governor, Mikie Sherrill, and attorney general, Jennifer Davenport. The announcement comes amid days of clashes between protesters and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ) officials, during which officers have pepper-sprayed, Tased and shoved protesters. Demonstrators have been outside the detention center protesting in support of detained immigrants inside the facility, who have been engaged in a hunger and labor strike demanding improved conditions. One of the strikers’ demands has been to meet with Sherrill, who has been denied entry to the privately run facility. Friday was the eighth day of the strike, marking the beginning of a weekend with further clashes and violence likely. A pro-ICE counter-protest is scheduled for Saturday morning at the site. It is unclear how the state police’s takeover from ICE to address protests will be implemented and how involved federal agents will be. …