On June 1, 2026, the White House released a video page titled “Newark or anywhere in America, the message doesn’t change: ICE operations will NOT be deterred.” The page explicitly stated that rioting, obstructing, or assaulting an officer would result in arrest and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
The warning followed weeks of escalating unrest at Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. According to DHS, sanctuary politicians and leftist activists have been spreading false information about the facility, which contributed directly to coordinated attacks against ICE officers outside the complex.
On May 29, 2026, Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis of DHS released a statement: “Sanctuary politicians are spreading categorically false smears about ICE’s Delaney Hall facility in New Jersey. These types of smears are inciting violent riots.” The statement emphasized that illegal aliens receive three meals a day, medical care, and full due process while noting no lawbreakers have been treated worse.
DHS documented specific incidents:
– On May 25, 2026, rioters obstructed ICE officers from exiting Delaney Hall after officers issued lawful verbal commands for clearance.
– On May 28, 2026, staff intervened in a physical fight among detainees and used minimal force to de-escalate without injury.
DHS confirmed no individuals were struck by pepper ball projectiles during the May 25 incident and that no detainees were beaten or attacked by ICE officers on May 28. All affected detainees received medical evaluations and were cleared with no serious injuries.
The DHS statement concluded: “The pattern is familiar. Sanctuary politicians invent a horror story, activists run with it, and a federal building turns into a flashpoint.” The Trump administration reiterated that ICE operations will continue without interruption, and individuals who break the law will face prosecution.