Incident details
- Date of incident
- May 25, 2026
- Location
- Newark, New Jersey
- Targets
- Wali Khan (Independent)
- Assailant
- Law enforcement
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
Federal officers ride on an armored vehicle outside an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on May 25, 2026. Journalist Wali Khan was shoved by an officer while covering protests at the facility that day.
Independent reporter and photojournalist Wali Khan was shoved by a federal officer while covering protests outside an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on May 25, 2026.
Protests outside the Delaney Hall federal detention facility began May 22, when many detainees went on a hunger strike. Federal officers responded to the protests with chemical irritants, physical force and arrests.
Members of Congress, state and local lawmakers and rights groups have alleged dire conditions at the facility. The Department of Homeland Security has denied allegations of detainee mistreatment.
In a post on social media, Khan wrote that crowds had gathered outside the facility May 25 in an attempt to prevent the transfer of a detainee who was reportedly involved in organizing the hunger strike.
“In a public letter, detainees described fleeing violence and instability in their home countries only to end up inside what they called degrading and abusive conditions,” he reported. “They wrote of spoiled food, psychological torment, and feeling ‘kidnapped’ while being held without justification.”
Khan told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that a federal officer deliberately shoved him while he was covering the clashes between protesters and law enforcement.
“I was shoved on my neck and chest while trying to take photos,” he said.
In a statement emailed to the Tracker on June 1, DHS said anyone who obstructs law enforcement or disrupts its operations would be prosecuted. It did not address its use of force against members of the press.
“We remind members of the media to exercise caution as they cover these violent riots and remind journalists that covering unlawful activities in the field does come with risks,” the statement read. “Our officers take every reasonable precaution to mitigate those dangers to those exercising protected First Amendment rights.”
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
