Anti-ICE prosecutor Brendan Geier charged with biting police at NJ Delaney Hall protest.
An anti-ICE protester who allegedly sunk his teeth into law enforcement officers during a violent protest at Delaney Hall on Thursday has been charged.
Brendan John Geier, 26, was charged Friday with allegedly “kicking and biting” ICE officers outside a detention center in Newark, leaving “serious wounds,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced in a social media post, which included photos of bloodied and injured officers.
“Peaceful protest does not mean violent attacks on law enforcement,” said Blanche in a statement. “Government officials are protecting the property and resources of the United States. With almost no local law enforcement support from New Jersey, protesters are gathering and attacking.”
“We will not tolerate the brutal attacks we’ve seen in Newark over the past few days, and we will arrest people and hold people accountable for criminal behavior.”
Geier, of Madison, NJ, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Cari Fais on Friday.
The DOJ alleges that Geier was part of a large group of protesters who blocked the entrance to the Delaney Hall ICE facility around 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
The facility has been the subject of heavy protests in recent days related to allegations of poor conditions for inmates inside the facility, which the Department of Public Safety (DHS) strongly denies.
ICE officers “attempted to clear the road, formed a line and began moving toward a group of protesters, including Geier,” according to the DOJ.
“The police issued orders to the protesters to ‘back off,’ but the protesters, including Geier, ignored those orders and refused to clear the road,” the department said. “Geier instead fought with the exiled officers, kicking the officers and eventually biting one officer’s forearm, and another’s knuckle. Both victims received treatment at a local hospital.”
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin described Geier as a “violent promoter” of X.
“The Trump administration WILL ALWAYS stand with our law enforcement officials,” Mullin said. “Anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Post attempted to contact Geier for comment.
Clashes between law enforcement and protesters continued near Delaney Hall Friday night despite New Jersey Gov. Mike Sherrill’s attempt to establish a “peaceful” area for the protest.
Chants of “Kill yourselves, quit your job, quit your job,” could be heard from anti-ICE at one point.
Law enforcement fired tear gas and pepper spray in an attempt to disperse the unruly crowd, according to the video.
