Newark ICE Breakout Ignites Clash Over Immigration Chaos

A chaotic breakout at Newark’s Delaney Hall ICE detention center has sparked a fierce blame game, with local leaders pointing fingers amid rising tensions. On Thursday evening, four migrants—identified as public safety threats—escaped after a disturbance reportedly triggered by delayed meals. The incident saw detainees tear down a dormitory wall, described as flimsy, and protesters outside blocking an ICE vehicle, escalating the disorder.

Newark’s Mayor Ras Baraka pinned the chaos on federal oversight failures, slamming private prison operations and demanding transparency from the Department of Homeland Security and GEO Group, which runs the facility. Baraka’s criticism follows his own controversial history with the center, including a dropped trespassing charge from a May visit alongside Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, who now faces federal charges for assaulting an ICE agent during that same event.

Meanwhile, New Jersey GOP leader Kenny Gonzalez fired back, accusing Baraka and Democratic leaders of fueling lawlessness with their rhetoric. He argued their actions embolden unrest, pointing to similar chaos in Los Angeles as a warning sign. Gonzalez called for stronger law enforcement action and warned of more protests targeting Delaney Hall over the weekend.

The escaped migrants, identified as Honduran nationals Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes and Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez, and Colombian nationals Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada and Andres Pineda-Mogollon, remain at large. Bautista-Reyes has a prior arrest for aggravated assault, raising concerns about public safety.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson emphasized the Trump administration’s commitment to cracking down on illegal immigration, with DHS deploying additional resources to apprehend the escapees. As Newark braces for more protests, the clash between local and federal priorities underscores deeper divisions over immigration policy.