Journalist pepper-sprayed by federal officers at Father’s Day protest

Independent reporter and photojournalist Wali Khan was targeted with pepper spray by federal officers while documenting protests outside a detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on June 21, 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.

Khan reported on social media that protesters gathered outside the facility on June 21, tying neckties to the main gate after all Father’s Day visitations were canceled.

In a social media post he jointly published with Status Coup, federal officers can be seen streaming out of the facility alongside a couple of Geo Group employees, and starting to push demonstrators back while conducting arrests.

After deploying chemical munitions at the crowd — including pepper spray and pepper balls — officers then retreat behind the fence marking the detention center grounds.

Khan told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that an officer deliberately pepper-sprayed him, adding simply, “That really fucking sucked.”

Reflecting on the last month of protests, Khan said that federal officers routinely targeted members of the press.

“When the ICE or DHS officers step in to push protesters back, who are trying to block vehicles or whatever, they very obviously target journalists who are in front and taking pictures,” Khan said. “They push us back and beat us. They pepper-spray us. They don’t care.

“They deploy their less-lethal ammunition like it’s a toy, and they’re very trigger-happy,” he added.

In a statement emailed to the Tracker on June 24, 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 and the public 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.”