Man Arrested for Threatening ICE Officer and Family at New Jersey Protest
Arrest Following Violent Threats
Todd Blanche, Acting U.S. Attorney General, announced on Friday the arrest of a man who had issued death threats against a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and his family during a protest in New Jersey on Thursday night. The arrest happened shortly after Blanche vowed that the protester, seen on video making threats, would be apprehended.
On Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show,” Blanche remarked, “That’s a federal crime. Threatening the ICE officer is criminal, but threatening his family makes it particularly despicable.” In video footage, the protester is heard saying, “I will kill your whole f—ing family. Your whole f—ing family is dead. Your children and wife all dead. I have your face mother—er! All dead!”
Clashes at Delaney Hall
Federal immigration officers confronted protesters outside Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday. Blanche highlighted that the officer targeted was simply performing his job, “standing there.”
Blanche later confirmed the arrest on X, stating, “Told you. @FBI just arrested the man who threatened to kill ICE officers and their families.” The individual has not been publicly identified.
Protest Escalation and Arrests
The confrontation unfolded Thursday evening outside the Delaney Hall detention center, where protesters reportedly attacked agents by biting, kicking, and punching. The demonstrations had persisted for six nights by Thursday. According to the Department of Homeland Security, nine protesters were arrested during Thursday’s clashes.
Approximately 100 demonstrators surrounded the detention center, chanting anti-ICE slogans and using black umbrellas, gas masks, and other equipment to shield themselves from pepper spray and other counter-protest measures.
Lack of Local Support
DHS reported that about 100 anti-ICE protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall on Wednesday evening, where rioters assaulted and threw objects at law enforcement. Despite calls for assistance, local police did not respond. “We called local police, we called state police multiple times,” Mullin stated during a Fox & Friends appearance. “Due to Governor Sherrill’s policies, local law enforcement is not being allowed to respond.”
Protests Rooted in Detainee Conditions
Demonstrations began on Friday, May 22, in response to an open letter from detainees claiming they were denied medical care, insufficiently fed, and held without due process. DHS has refuted these allegations.
Fox News’ Charles Creitz and Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.