President Trump’s White House issued a stark warning on June 1, 2026, targeting individuals who threaten to obstruct or assault federal immigration officers during ICE operations. The message explicitly stated that “Riot, obstruct, or assault an officer, and you will be arrested and prosecuted.”
The warning followed weeks of escalating tensions at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey—a federal immigration detention facility that has become a flashpoint for protests. According to the White House’s published video page titled “Newark or anywhere in America, the message doesn’t change,” the administration views these demonstrations as part of a coordinated campaign fueled by false narratives rather than organic public concern.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that sanctuary politicians and leftist activists have been spreading “categorically false smears” about ICE’s Delaney Hall facility in New Jersey, directly contributing to violent confrontations outside the site. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated: “These sanctuary politicians need to stop with the political theatre. No lawbreakers in the history of human civilization have been better treated than illegal aliens.”
DHS documented two specific incidents during the unrest: On May 25, 2026, rioters obstructed law enforcement from exiting the facility despite lawful commands to clear the area; and on May 28, 2026, staff used minimal force to de-escalate a physical fight involving detainees, with no injuries reported. DHS emphasized that “no individuals were directly struck by pepper ball projectiles” during the May 25 incident and “no detainees were beaten or attacked by ICE” in the May 28 event.
The administration reiterated that its enforcement actions remain uncompromised, asserting that those who violate federal law will face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. The White House maintains that ICE operations continue uninterrupted, while rioters risk severe consequences for their actions.
