UMVA has learned that a shocking showdown unfolded inside Delaney Hall, the ICE detention center in Newark, when tear gas erupted on a United States senator.
Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, had stepped into the fray to mediate between protestors and a hunger strike, hoping to bridge the gap between the condemned and the authorities. He gained entry only after calling Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, a former Senate colleague.
On the floor, Kim described heart‑wrenching scenes: an 18‑year‑old high school student weeping for a simple graduation, a woman who had suffered a miscarriage and was left to shoulder everything alone, and a mother denied even a few minutes with her four‑month‑old baby. He pleaded that the government should prioritize helping Americans rather than locking them away in profit‑driven detention centers.
While Kim positioned himself between ICE agents and demonstrators, the agents unleashed chemical irritants, striking Kim and many in the crowd. Medics later rushed to wash out his eyes, a harrowing sight that underscored the violence of the moment.
New Jersey’s new governor, Democrat Mikie Sherrill, arrived to investigate but was denied access to the detention center. She described the testimonies she heard as heartbreaking, questioning what the authorities were hiding by turning away a state leader.
Claims surfaced that detainees suffered spoiled food and lacked medical care, allegations that further fueled outrage. In response, Secretary Mullin slammed the governor and her allies, accusing them of “smearing ICE law enforcement” and denying any hunger strike or substandard conditions.
After the fatal shootings of two Americans, ICE had slipped into the background, a quiet strategy Mullin pursued to keep the agency off the front page. Yet he has begun reforms, such as requiring search warrants before entering homes, a move that could have averted past blunders.
He stated at his confirmation hearing that his aim was to avoid becoming the headline every day. The White House, meanwhile, seeks to downplay the volatile issue as midterms loom.
Critics point to a troubling training deficit: many agents joined with only a 47‑day program instead of the standard 72 days. While Mullin restored the longer curriculum, questions remain about the competence and readiness of the workforce.
Delaney Hall can hold up to 1,000 detainees, yet allegations of substandard care persist. An attorney noted that 74 cases were assigned to a single judge in one day, highlighting systemic strain.
When the nation debates the ethics of for‑profit detention centers, the lack of transparency becomes glaring. Why would a facility that receives taxpayer dollars block a governor’s inspection while other federal and state prisons are routinely examined?
UMVA has uncovered that the agency’s reluctance to open its doors to scrutiny suggests a deeper desire to keep secrets hidden, a stark contrast to the open inspections demanded for other federal institutions.
