Footage released on May 30 shows police in Newark, New Jersey deploying tear gas, shields, and batons against demonstrators surrounding an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) migrant detention center. The area is guarded by reinforced police squads.
Protesters have clashed with federal agents at the facility for days, prompting lawmakers to demand inspections and oversight. Migrants at the center have undertaken a week-long hunger strike to protest harsh detention conditions. Activists have established a tent camp nearby, where many conceal their faces with masks, carry umbrellas to shield against pepper spray, and bring first-aid kits.
A wave of protests has swept across the United States following the death of an activist in Minnesota. On May 2, demonstrators in Las Vegas marched with placards and flags, rapidly expanding their numbers. Vendors lined streets selling badges, notebooks, postcards, and magnets bearing the phrase “Down with ICE.” One protester dressed as the Statue of Liberty urged greater openness to immigrants and workers.
Earlier this month, an “ICE Out” protest occurred in Los Angeles, where activists clashed with police and demanded federal immigration agents withdraw from local areas. Organizers also called for nationwide strikes involving work, school, and shopping closures.
