New Jersey Man Arrested for Assaulting ICE Officers During Protest

A New Jersey resident has been taken into custody after reportedly attacking two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers outside a detention facility in Newark. The Department of Justice announced the arrest of Brendan John Geier, 26, from Madison, on charges of assaulting federal officers and causing bodily harm.

Incident Details

The altercation occurred at Newark’s Delaney Hall detention center during an anti-ICE protest. Demonstrators have been present at the location for more than a week, and some have been implicated in assaults on federal agents. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that peaceful protests do not justify violence against law enforcement.

Various protesters clashed with federal agents outside the detention center. Federal officers, tasked with protecting U.S. property and facilities, faced opposition without much support from local New Jersey law enforcement, according to Blanche.

Legal Actions and Arrests

During Thursday’s clashes, nine individuals were taken into custody. Federal officials used pepper spray and crowd-control strategies to manage the situation. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin remarked that anyone who attacks law enforcement would face full legal consequences.

The confrontation escalated as protesters blocked access to the detention center, leading deportation officers to clear the area. The Department of Justice explained that Geier resisted commands, engaged in a scuffle, kicked officers, and bit one officer’s forearm and another’s knuckle. Both officers sought medical treatment at a local hospital.

At the same location, authorities detained another man for allegedly issuing death threats against an ICE officer and the officer’s family.