The feds begged Newark police for backup as riots raged outside Delaney Hall detention center – but those calls went unanswered, a union boss claimed as he blamed the state’s lefty governor for ordering local cops not to help.
Capt. John Chrystal, president of the Newark Police Superior Officers’ Association, said New Jersey’s largest police force has been blocked from helping federal agents as violent clashes with anti-ICE protests have flared outside the immigration facility for a week.
He accused Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, both Democrats, of letting “politics” endanger ICE agents.
“Our administration is getting orders from the mayor and from the governor,” Chrystal told The Post Friday.
“From what I’ve been told, police have been told to stand down and it’s a shame. Nothing is in writing but this is a political hot potato, and something needs to be done. Regardless of political views, refusing to provide assistance when officer safety is at risk is not sound policy.
“We’d like to help, but this is coming way above us.”
Chrystal pointed to “sanctuary policies” that have emboldened politicians to stonewall federal authorities.
He said union representatives are worried about the safety of ICE at Delaney Hall – and about federal backup requests that have gone unanswered.
“We are concerned about reports that federal officers requested backup and they weren’t properly answered,” he fumed, adding the union plans to raise the issue with the city and state.
“They are not cooperating with the federal government in this matter, and it puts all officers’ safety at risk. If they are calling for backup, they deserve it, they need it. We have a duty and responsibility to assist any law enforcement officers when they are requesting it. We need to set politics aside and look at safety.”
Reps for Sherrill and Baraka did not immediately respond to The Post’s requests for comment.
But Sherrill announced Friday state law enforcement would establish a “protest zone” outside the detention center as she blamed ICE for the ongoing unrest.
“We all need to do everything we can to cool things down now,” she said at a press conference.
“I will not give ICE the pretext to expand operations in our state. For that reason, New Jersey law enforcement is today establishing a peaceful, protected, protest zone in the area outside Delaney Hall.”
“Our top priority is public safety – and we need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature now,” she added.
Mobs of unhinged anti-ICE goons – many masked and clad in keffiyeh scarves – descended outside Delaney Hall over Memorial Day weekend, violently clashing with federal agents and unleashing raucous mayhem that has dragged on for seven straight days.
Activists have claimed ICE detainees are on a hunger strike in protest of deplorable living conditions at the 1,000-bed facility – but federal officials have pushed back on those allegations.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin swatted down claims of a mass strike this week – insisting only a “handful” of detainees are refusing meals and demanding culturally specific “ethnic” food.
DHS told The Post Thursday that illegal immigrants held at Delaney Hall include violent offenders convicted of crimes ranging from drug trafficking and assault to fraud, weapons possession and money laundering.
Mullin also ripped into “New Jersey sanctuary politicians,” accusing them of demanding access to the facility to chase “fundraising clicks” and refusing to allow local police to assist federal officers.
“Governor Sherrill refused to allow state police to assist our officers,” Mullin blasted on X Friday morning after more than 100 anti-ICE “rioters” swarmed the federal facility, with nine cuffed Thursday night.
The arrested rabble-rousers are accused of biting, kicking and punching agents.
New Jersey’s state police union did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The unrest at Delaney Hall comes months after explosive anti-ICE demonstrations engulfed Minneapolis, with unruly agitators spending weeks battling ICE and Border Patrol agents in the streets during immigration crackdowns that left two locals dead.
Renee Good, a mother of three and anti-ICE activist, was shot in the head by an ICE agent after she drove her car toward him. Alex Pretti, an armed ICU nurse, was killed after he confronted Border Patrol agents who tried to disperse a crowd of protesters.
Local police unions said both killings were avoidable and blasted state and local leaders, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for blocking cooperation between local cops and federal authorities.
St. Paul Federation President Mark Ross blamed sanctuary policies and lawmakers for the anti-ICE violence – insisting that if highly trained cops were allowed to work alongside federal agents, the two deaths likely could have been prevented.
“Unfortunately, our local politicians would not allow us to do that,” he said in January.
Protests have turned increasingly violent in recent days, with tensions boiling over after Sherrill joined agitators on Memorial Day and was denied access to the building.
Chrystal warned that if local police are barred from helping federal partners, the demonstrations will only escalate as more agents are sent in to control the chaos.
“In my opinion, from what I see, if we don’t help ICE now, the next step is they will flood the area with additional federal law enforcement officers,” he said.
“It probably means more protesters coming in. We have to support our law enforcement officers, we have a duty and an obligation.”
Additional reporting by David Propper
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