New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill claimed that people from other states had helped to inflame tensions during protests held outside the Delaney Hall migrant detention center in Newark.
According to the governor, five of the six people arrested during Friday's incidents were not from New Jersey. She also accused "domestic extremist groups" of joining the weekend gatherings, exacerbating the situation around the school.
Faced with rising tensions, Mikie Sherrill ordered state police to take control of security around the facility. She urged outside protesters to leave the area, arguing that they were not helping to improve the conditions of the detainees or support their families.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has instituted a nighttime curfew around Delaney Hall. Starting at midnight, pedestrian access to Doremus Avenue is prohibited, and vehicular traffic is restricted to those with an official reason. The measure is in effect every night from 21 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.
Local authorities say they want to avoid any escalation of violence while maintaining the right to protest. They also insist on the need to refocus the debate on the detention conditions at the center, which are the subject of recurring criticism from migrant rights organizations.
In recent weeks, the Delaney Hall center has become a rallying point for opponents of the president's administration's immigration policy. Donald Trumpbut also for those in favor of strengthening migration controls, leading to several confrontations under heavy police surveillance.
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