MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA STATEMENT ON SCALING BACK POLICE PRESENCE AT DELANEY HALL

“For the past year, advocates have peacefully assembled at Delaney Hall with discipline, purpose, and unwavering commitment.

“That commitment was disrupted on Memorial Day, when a sharp and troubling shift occurred. ICE increased its presence and engaged protesters in ways that escalated tensions and led to unnecessary confrontation.

“Since the City stepped in, we have worked to restore calm and uphold our values. As a result of our involvement, arrests have dropped dramatically, from 80 to just 3. We have accomplished this without the use of force, tear gas, or aggressive policing. The Newark Police Division has remained focused on de-escalation and ensuring protests remain peaceful.

“We must also be clear about the limits of the City’s role. It is not the responsibility of the Newark Police Division to secure a private facility. We have made clear to the GEO Group, who has its own private security firm, that securing their facility is their responsibility, not the City’s. Our intention was never to protect Delaney Hall or HSI but to bring calm. It is a clear contradiction to the City's position with GEO group to remain there.

“Therefore, we will not continue to spend resourced and tax dollars in an already strapped budget to safeguard a privately-owned facility, especially when it places our officers at unnecessary risk. Nor will we ask our officers to engage in practices that contradict our values of fairness, restraint, and respect for human rights.

“Given the significant reduction in unrest, the City will begin scaling back its presence at Delaney Hall. After tonight, NPD will focus on traffic management and public safety, ensuring the protection of both protesters and motorists.

“We urge all protesters to remain peaceful so that attention remains focused on the urgent health and safety needs of detainees and the closing of Delaney Hall.”