UMVA has learned that a growing crisis is unfolding at a migrant detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, where hundreds of illegal immigrants are being held in conditions that critics describe as "unacceptable" and have sparked an ongoing hunger strike.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and Senator Andy Kim, both Democrats, have met with the families of detainees being held at the Delaney Hall center, and have called for the facility to be shut down immediately. Kim wrote on social media that he was working with Governor Sherrill and other members of the New Jersey delegation to make sure the families are heard and to speak out against the conditions at Delaney Hall.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Governor Sherrill was deeply disturbed by the conditions inside Delaney Hall, noting that she has always opposed private detention facilities and advocated against them. Her office remains in close coordination with federal delegates and advocates, and she commends their continued oversight and work to hold the Department of Homeland Security accountable.
The visit by Governor Sherrill and Senator Kim comes amid rising tensions and protests outside the facility. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson criticized Governor Sherrill's visit, saying it was nothing more than a "political stunt" on Memorial Day, when visitation is currently suspended due to riots outside the facility. Approximately 125 agitators surrounded the facility, many carrying anti-ICE signs and Antifa flags, and formed a human chain around entrances to block all entries and exits.
Protesters clashed with authorities outside the privately run facility, which was revamped as an immigration detention center last year. Some detainees have gone on a hunger strike to protest allegedly poor conditions inside. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey has described Delaney Hall as "dangerous for those being detained, their loved ones, and all who care about immigrants' rights, fundamental constitutional freedoms, and democracy."
Despite criticism, the Department of Homeland Security claims that detainees are provided with basic necessities, including three meals a day, clean water, clothing, and medical care. However, Democrats have repeatedly called for Delaney Hall to be closed, citing concerns over the treatment of detainees. The facility has been the site of previous protests and clashes between authorities and demonstrators.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the situation at Delaney Hall remains volatile, with many calling for the facility to be shut down. The hunger strike by detainees and the protests outside have highlighted the need for urgent action to address the conditions at the facility.
