The Department of Homeland Security has hit out at New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill after she claimed victory for 'solving' a problem at an embattled ICE facility that officials say she helped create in the first place.
Sherrill, a Democrat, posted on social media Sunday that visitation rights will resume for the 1,000 migrants being held at Delaney Hall in Newark, where anti-ICE protesters clashed with federal authorities over the weekend.
'DHS has met our demands to restore family visitation,' she posted. 'Starting today, limited visitation will resume at noon and regular visitation hours will be restored beginning tomorrow.'
Sherrill then urged protesters 'to lower the temperature and protest peacefully so we can continue making progress for families and detainees while avoiding any ICE escalation that would only create more fear and uncertainty in our communities.'
But the Department of Homeland Security has claimed visitation rights were instead restored after officials were finally able to get the riots under control - after Sherrill and allies helped fan the flames.
'We did not cave to the governor's demands,' a spokesperson for the department told the New York Post.
'Visitation was suspended because the violent riots outside the facility made it unsafe for our officers, detainees' families and lawyers to visit the facility,' the spokesperson continued. 'With Delaney Hall secure, ICE operations continue as normal.'
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