A man was arrested by the FBI after threatening to kill a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and the officer’s family outside a Newark detention facility, authorities said.
Video posted by independent journalist Nick Sortor showed escalating demonstrations outside Delaney Hall, wth protest encampments and violent confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement in recent days.
A day before, Blanche told Fox News that the suspect would be arrested because it was a federal crime.
The statute also covers threats against family members of federal officials, such as spouses or children. Penalties carry significant fines and prison time.
Mullin said, “Thank you to the FBI for arresting a rioter who threatened to kill an ICE law enforcement officer and his family outside Delaney Hall.” He said officers are facing an “8,000% increase in death threats” as they carry out enforcement operations.
He added, “President Donald Trump and I will always stand with our law enforcement.”
Violent Protests ‘Grown Unsafe’
On May 28, New Jersey state police arrived to set up designated protest zones and vehicle checkpoints outside the immigration detention center, relieving federal immigration enforcement agents.
“It has grown unsafe, and that’s completely unacceptable,” the Democratic governor said at a news conference announcing the new measures. “We need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature.”
As police erected protest barriers, ICE agents who had formed a line in front of protesters moved inside the building’s perimeter fence.
Heightened tensions have taken place outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, in recent days as demonstrators have been stationed there during recent protests tied to immigration enforcement operations and alleged detention conditions.
Blanche shared images of injuries sustained by officers, including large bleeding bite wounds.
“We will not tolerate the vicious attacks on ICE officers we’ve seen in New Jersey the last few days. These riots are clearly not ‘peaceful protests’ as you can see from the photos of these horrific wounds. Assault a federal officer, you’ll be held accountable,” Blanche said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
