05/31/2026
I want to thank Governor Mikie Sherrill, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, and the New Jersey State Police for the briefing provided this morning regarding the events at Delaney Hall.
As a first-generation immigrant, I understand firsthand the hopes, sacrifices, and challenges that many immigrant families face. I also understand the fear, frustration, and strong emotions surrounding these issues.
We were advised that the New Jersey State Police spent hours working to maintain order and prevent the situation from escalating. I want to be clear: the New Jersey State Police are not ICE. They are there to protect everyone involved and keep our communities safe.
I continue to believe we need to lower the temperature. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right, but escalation risks creating unintended consequences for the very families many are trying to support.
If individuals detained at Delaney Hall are moved to facilities farther from New Jersey, it can become more difficult for families to visit them, communicate with them, and maintain access to legal representation.
Additional demonstrations, including counter-protests, are expected. Please remain peaceful, stay vigilant, and avoid engaging with those seeking to provoke conflict. Not everyone participating may be from our communities or have the best interests of New Jersey families at heart.
Let us continue to look out for one another, respect one another, keep our communities safe, and advocate openly for what matters to us.
-Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie