New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has formally requested access to Delaney Hall, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Newark, amid ongoing protests over detainees’ living conditions.
The protests began on Friday after allegations surfaced claiming that hundreds of immigrants held at Delaney Hall are subjected to unsafe and inhumane conditions. In an official statement, Sherrill expressed deep concern about these reports, calling the alleged conditions “unsafe, inhumane, and unconstitutional.” She reiterated her longstanding opposition to private detention centers and called for the closure of Delaney Hall.
“I have contacted ICE to gain access to the facility,” Sherrill said. “My office remains in close coordination with our federal delegation and advocates. I commend their continued oversight and work to hold the Department of Homeland Security accountable.” She also pledged to continue monitoring the situation to ensure detainees are treated humanely.
Protests and Detention Conditions
Protests outside Delaney Hall persisted into a third day, with demonstrators blocking a white van attempting to leave the facility on Sunday. Gabriela Soto, whose husband Martin Soto is detained inside the center, told CBS News New York that he was forcibly taken into the van despite a judge’s order for his release. Gabriela Soto described her husband’s loud protests inside the vehicle and indicated the protesters’ intent to prevent his deportation.
Advocacy groups and local lawmakers have joined the protest efforts. Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, highlighted concerns for both New Jersey and New York detainees held at Delaney Hall. Meanwhile, New Jersey Democrats U.S. Senator Andy Kim and Representative Robert Menendez Jr. visited the facility last weekend.
Senator Kim reported detainees raised issues such as limited access to medical treatment, poor-quality food, and water problems. He criticized the judicial processes faced by detainees, noting one judge was assigned 74 cases on a single day, calling it a “farce.” Menendez Jr. stayed late at the site to meet with Gabriela Soto and ensure her husband was accounted for.
ICE Response to Allegations
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson responded by stating detainees at Delaney Hall receive three meals daily, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, and toiletries. The spokesperson said certified dietitians evaluate the meals. Medical, dental, and mental health services are provided as available, including 24-hour emergency care and access to appointments. Detainees reportedly have phone access to contact family and lawyers.
As of Sunday, ICE had not provided additional comments on the specific allegations or the request for the governor’s inspection of the facility.
Why it matters
The conditions and treatment of detainees at private ICE detention centers like Delaney Hall are a growing point of contention amid broader debates over immigration enforcement and detention reform. Governor Sherrill’s request reflects increased political and public scrutiny of such facilities, which may impact future oversight and policy decisions both in New Jersey and nationally.
Background
Delaney Hall is one of several privately run detention centers that house immigrants awaiting deportation or immigration hearings. Advocates and some lawmakers have long criticized these centers for alleged poor living standards and inadequate medical care. The issue draws heightened attention as immigrant communities and reform groups mobilize to demand transparency, humane treatment, and alternatives to detention.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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