New Jersey Sues Immigration Detention Centre Operator Over Inhumane Conditions
The New Jersey government has officially sued the company managing the Delaney Hall immigration detention centre in Newark. This legal action follows a wave of protests and allegations regarding inhumane conditions within the facility.
In its lawsuit, the government is demanding that the facility’s owner, GEO Group—a private contractor—provide full access to state health inspectors. The legal move was triggered by findings of “unhygienic food and beverage preparation and storage.” Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Health has received reports regarding “potentially inadequate tuberculosis infection control practices.”
Despite these allegations, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied the claims, labelling the lawsuit “reckless.” They stated that four health department representatives were permitted to enter and inspect food service areas on 28 May.
“ICE is committed to transparency, and Delaney Hall complies with all required state and local laws,” an official DHS statement read.
However, New Jersey authorities argue that the access provided was extremely limited. According to the Attorney General’s lawsuit, GEO Group initially refused inspectors on 27 May, citing a busy congressional visit schedule. When access was granted the following day, medical officers were reportedly barred from entering Delaney Hall’s healthcare unit.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill harshly criticised the facility operator’s lack of transparency. “If GEO Group—with a government contract worth US$1 billion—is not hiding anything and the conditions inside Delaney Hall are as safe and hygienic as claimed by this private company and the Trump Administration, then there is no legitimate reason why my health inspectors are being denied full access to the entire building,” Sherrill stated.
Tensions surrounding Delaney Hall continue to escalate. Immigration advocacy activists claim that several detainees have been on hunger strikes since 22 May as a form of protest. While the DHS has denied this, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin offered a dismissive comment during a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump.
“Only a handful of individuals are refusing to eat because they want their ethnic foods—or their right to ethnic foods,” Mullin said. “The fact is, we are providing them with the calories they want. This is not a Holiday Inn.”
The situation has led to large-scale protests that turned violent in front of the detention facility. Democratic Senator Andy Kim reported being hit by pepper spray while visiting the site on 25 May. Due to the unrest, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has imposed a curfew around the area and is urging the immediate closure of Delaney Hall.
“This is a dispute about human lives, about people and how they are treated,” Baraka concluded during a press conference on Tuesday.