More than 20 anti-ICE protesters have been arrested outside Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey, after days of escalating violence against federal officers — and the Department of Homeland Security just made it crystal clear that the party is over. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the assaults "savage" and promised prosecution "to the fullest extent."
Remember when the left told us these were "mostly peaceful protests"? Funny how "mostly peaceful" keeps including biting federal officers and kicking them while they're trying to do their jobs.
The chaos got so out of hand that even Newark Mayor Ras Baraka — a Democrat, naturally — had to impose a mandatory 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. curfew within a half-mile radius of the facility on Doremus Avenue. When your own team is so unhinged that you have to ground them like teenagers, maybe it's time to rethink the whole "resistance" thing.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche didn't mince words. "We will not tolerate the vicious attacks on ICE officers we've seen in New Jersey the last few days," he said, sharing images of injured ICE officers online. At least six demonstrators were arrested Wednesday night alone for allegedly assaulting law enforcement. Nine more were hauled off Thursday. The weekend brought even more.
One of the stars of this little insurrection is 26-year-old Brendan John Geier of Madison, New Jersey, who was charged with assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury. According to the DOJ, Geier kicked ICE deportation officers, then bit one officer's forearm and another officer's knuckle. Both victims ended up in the hospital. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais on Friday. Real upstanding citizen, that one.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey emphasized that federal officers must be able to work "without being subjected to violence." Acting Special Agent Spiros Karabinas of HSI Newark put it even more plainly, calling the assaults "criminal acts — not protected speech."
Somebody should embroider that on a pillow for the ACLU.
Delaney Hall, which opened in May 2025 and has a capacity of 1,000 beds, currently holds approximately 300 detainees. A hunger strike by some detainees over alleged conditions kicked off the protests more than a week ago. DHS has described the situation as a "coordinated campaign of violence against our ICE law enforcement" — and frankly, watching the footage, that's being generous.
Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill finally sent in state police after it became obvious that local law enforcement — which DHS says provided minimal support — wasn't going to handle it. State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport called the violence "unacceptable," which is nice, but maybe could've come a few days and a few bitten officers earlier.
Here's the thing the protest crowd never seems to understand. You don't get to storm a federal facility, assault the officers inside, and then cry about your First Amendment rights when the consequences show up. The First Amendment protects speech. It does not protect biting.
DHS said "ZERO tolerance." Twenty-plus arrests later, it looks like they meant it. The curfew stays, the prosecutions are coming, and the rioters are finding out that this administration isn't interested in watching federal officers get chewed on while politicians wring their hands. Play stupid games, win a federal indictment.