Gov. Mikie Sherrill said state Department of Health officials attempted to inspect a controversial Newark immigrant detention center on Thursday, and though they were permitted into a limited section of the facility, the officials were blocked from a full inspection.
Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed detention center, has served as a hub for protest and scuffles since President Donald Trump took office last year. The discord around Delaney Hall has grown over the past week: detainees inside are conducting a hunger strike, hundreds of people have gathered outside the facility for protests and blockades, and many have been arrested.
The conflict garnered national attention when federal agents struck Senator Andy Kim with a pepper ball while he tried to separate protesters from the heavily armed officers. Video of Kim washing out his eyes galvanized Democratic anger with the Trump administration, and Sherrill, Senator Cory Booker, and a slew of other Democratic officials and candidates have visited the center.
Several members of Congress, who have oversight of the facility, have said that detainees have described inadequate meals, healthcare, and living conditions.
Sherrill said state health inspectors sought to investigate those claims on Thursday, but were largely rebuffed.
“As I’ve said repeatedly, refusing to provide full access raises serious questions about what ICE is trying to hide from public view,” Sherrill said. “New Jersey believes in the rule of law, will uphold the Constitution, and Delaney Hall should be closed down. I am calling for ICE to immediately de-escalate the situation as I continue working to keep New Jersey residents safe.”
Sherrill said the state will “review and share” the findings of the limited health inspection and pursue “all appropriate avenues” for transparency and adequate living conditions.
For more than a year, the city of Newark has been suing GEO Group, which operates Delaney Hall, in an attempt to shut down the facility. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said the facility opened last year without proper certifications, and the lawsuit has inched forward since. GEO Group has granted city inspectors access to the facility.
The city and GEO Group had been in private settlement talks for the better part of a year, but progress apparently stalled, and a federal judge appointed a mediator in April to break the gridlock. The parties have until June 15 to complete mediation.