SouthernWorldwide.com – Just one day after Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill lauded the “peaceful protesting” outside a New Jersey Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, the Department of Justice has announced an investigation into an individual who issued death threats against a federal agent and their family.
Governor Sherrill, in response to the threats, urged “everyone — especially members of federal, state, and local government” to take steps to “lower the temperature.”
The individual, identified as an anti-ICE agitator, was captured on video Wednesday night making violent threats towards federal law enforcement officers. The agitator shouted, “I’ll kill your whole f—— family, your whole f—— is dead. Your children, your wife, all dead.” The threats continued with, “I have your face, motherf—–, you’re dead, dead.”
The agitator then addressed the federal officers, stating, “What is this man doing? He’s just doing his job, standing there.” The individual vowed, “We see his face, and I promise you, we will find him, and when we find him, we will arrest him, because it is a crime not only to threaten law enforcement but not surprisingly to threaten their family as well.”
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The incident occurred after several days of confrontations between anti-ICE protesters and federal officials outside Newark’s Delaney Hall. Prior to this escalation, Governor Sherrill had commented on the situation, stating that “over the last couple of days” there had been “a lot of peaceful protesting going on, which, we’re going to continue to support.”
However, Governor Sherrill also suggested that “What seems to really be inciting a lot of this are really the ICE agents.” She further elaborated, “The ICE agents really need to stay out of there. That seems to really be inciting a lot of this right now.”
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Sherrill, who identified herself as a military veteran who has taken oaths to protect the Constitution, affirmed, “we are ensuring that people can protest peacefully as we share concerns about the horrific conditions inside Delaney Hall.”
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The demonstrations have been ongoing for several days, stemming from an open letter written by detainees at the facility. These detainees claimed they were not receiving adequate food, proper medical care, and were being denied communication with their families.
The protests have, at times, devolved into violence. On Wednesday night, individuals clad in keffiyehs reportedly clashed with ICE personnel, throwing objects over a barrier as tensions heightened. The protesters, demonstrating against alleged poor conditions for illegal immigrants held at the detention center, utilized mattresses and large traffic cones as makeshift shields.
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In response, ICE agents deployed batons and pepper spray, and also threw objects back at the agitators. Video footage from the scene showed ICE agents removing a wooden pallet and tossing it at a protester.
Governor Sherrill has publicly called for the closure of Delaney Hall. She attempted to gain entry to the facility on Memorial Day but was reportedly denied access by officials. Senator Andy Kim, D-N.J., was granted permission to conduct congressional oversight, though Sherrill was not. Senator Kim shared his observations from inside the facility on X, describing the conditions as “unacceptable” and noting he saw a carton of milk that was set to expire the following day.
