Videojournalist grabbed, shoved by police at New Jersey immigration protest

Status Coup videojournalist Jon Farina was grabbed and shoved by a law enforcement officer while covering protests outside a federal detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on June 7, 2026.

Protests outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility began May 22, when many detainees went on a hunger strike. Members of Congress, state and local lawmakers and rights groups have alleged dire conditions at the facility.

Federal officers responded to the protests with chemical irritants, physical force and arrests, as did state police in the days that followed.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied allegations of detainee mistreatment.

In an Instagram post, Status Coup reported that Farina was “one of several members of the press who were shoved by law enforcement and restricted from covering.”

The first half of the footage, recorded by Farina, shows several officers shouting at him to move back.

“No bullshit, I’ll put you in cuffs, I swear to god,” one Newark Police Division officer tells Farina.

Then a Newark detective wearing sunglasses yells at Farina to get back, as a nearby voice is heard shouting, “Press! Press! Press! Press! Press!”

The video then cuts to footage captured by freelance photojournalist Pierre Lavie, in which an officer is seen running up to Farina as he moves away in the direction the detective specified. The officer then grabs and pushes Farina seemingly toward the street.

A second individual, who appears to be wearing press credentials, was also shoved by the officer.

“It’s the state police — the New Jersey State Police — throwing punches to people that are on the ground. Grabbing and throwing members of the press,” Farina reports in his footage. “This is what you have going on here in New Jersey.”

The Newark police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On June 8, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka released a statement that officers were dispatched to Delaney Hall after receiving reports that people were blocking access to the facility. Baraka also asserted that responsibility for security at the immigration detention facility rests with its private operator, The Geo Group.

“I am encouraged by the NPD investigation because it appeared that some of our officers were over aggressive and should be held accountable. It is imperative that all of our officers uphold the standards of professionalism and accountability required under the consent decree,” the mayor said. “Any conduct that falls short undermines the significant progress we have made in building trust and advancing community-focused policing in Newark.”

The statement did not address the use of force against members of the press.