A New Jersey man was arrested after allegedly attacking two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during an anti-ICE protest outside a Newark detention center.
Arrest and Charges
Brendan John Geier, 26, from Madison, New Jersey, was taken into custody on Thursday. He faces charges of assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury, according to the Department of Justice.
The Incident
The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. outside Newark’s Delaney Hall detention center, where protesters have gathered for over a week. Authorities said demonstrators blocked a roadway leading to the facility, ignoring repeated commands to move back.
During the confrontation, Geier allegedly struggled with ICE officers, kicked them, and bit one officer’s forearm and another’s knuckle. Both officers were treated at a local hospital.
Official Statements
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that violent attacks on federal law enforcement will not be tolerated. He said federal officers were protecting U.S. property and facilities and warned that additional arrests may follow.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Geier’s alleged actions were “savage” and confirmed that anyone assaulting federal officers will face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
Related Arrests
Nine people were arrested during Thursday’s clashes, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier, a separate man was arrested outside Delaney Hall for allegedly making death threats against an ICE officer and the officer’s family.
Crowd Control Measures
Federal officials reported that demonstrations at the detention center have occasionally turned confrontational. ICE officers have used pepper spray and other crowd-control tactics to manage the protests and ensure security around the facility.
