Independent journalist struck with shield by New Jersey police officer

Independent reporter and photojournalist Wali Khan was struck with a shield by a police officer while covering protests outside a federal detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on June 6, 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 a post on social media, Khan reported that while federal officers had responded to protests earlier during the day on June 6, they were absent that night. Present instead was a collection of Newark Police Division officers and employees for The Geo Group, which owns and operates the facility.

“Geo group employees have been seen carrying baseball bats when exiting the facility and have assaulted protestors trying to block their cars,” he wrote.

Khan told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that Newark police were also aggressive when responding to the crowd.

“They shoved and assaulted us with riot shields, me and a few journalists, pushing us back,” he said.

In some of his footage from that night, officers are seen repeatedly shoving demonstrators while ordering them to get back, at times jostling Khan and his camera. Later, police shouts of “Move back!” are followed by protesters chanting “Fuck you!”

The Newark police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On June 8, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka released a statement asserting that responsibility for security at the immigration detention facility rests with The Geo Group but adding that all city officers are required to uphold standards of professionalism and accountability.

“Any conduct that falls short undermines the significant progress we have made in building trust and advancing community-focused policing in Newark,” he wrote.

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