Man from Riverside Section of Greenwich Arrested in ICE Protest Crackdown
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Rayaan Baywa, 22, a resident of the Riverside section of Greenwich, made regional news last weekend (June 6–7) when he was arrested by Newark Police outside the Delaney Hall federal immigration detention facility in New Jersey. He was one of six individuals taken into custody and charged with rioting and failure to disperse following an unlawful assembly.
According to official reports from the Newark Department of Public Safety, the arrests were made after a group of protesters blocked the main entrance of the facility and committed property damage, creating a significant public safety hazard. Video from the scene showed demonstrators barricading checkpoints with concrete blocks, traffic cones, and other debris.
The other arrestees were Allison Wuu, 19, of Fort Collins, CO; Lucas Jimenez, 18, of Hoboken, NJ; Drew Larsen, 28, of Brooklyn, NY; Solomon Dunston, 30, of Bordentown, NJ; and Julianna Wurst, 19, of Old Bridge, NJ.
Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, Sr. issued a direct warning regarding the high number of out-of-state participants traveling to the site. Miranda noted that individuals who enter the city from out of town with an agenda to destroy property or incite violence will face swift criminal charges.
Detention Center Controversy
The detention center has been a focal point of intense protests since detainees launched a hunger strike last month. Activists claim detainees are facing inhumane conditions, including moldy food, severe medical neglect, and highly restrictive visitation rules. The escalating situation prompted a surprise visit from White House Border Czar Tom Homan, who toured the facility to inspect the living quarters. Defending the center's management, Homan told CBS News:
"Is it a five-star resort? No. But is it a well-run detention facility? Yes. The spaghetti was good."
Federal officials have pushed back heavily against the hunger strike narrative, releasing data showing that on-site commissary snack sales have actually spiked during the weeks of the alleged fast.
Between the Lines: Greenwich is used to headlines about corporate triumphs, charity, and prime real estate. A 22-year-old from bucolic Riverside brawling with police outside a New Jersey detention center is a different story entirely—and certainly nothing to brag about.