New Jersey sues Delaney Hall operators for access after allegations of inhumane conditions
New Jersey Sues Delaney Hall Operators Over Alleged Inhumane Conditions
New Jersey sues Delaney Hall operators – On Tuesday, the state of New Jersey launched a legal action against the private entity managing the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, seeking court authorization to inspect the facility. This move follows a series of protests and public outcry over claims of mistreatment and poor conditions at the site. The state health department’s demand for access has intensified as concerns grow about the facility’s compliance with safety and health standards.
The federal government, specifically the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has contested the allegations, maintaining that Delaney Hall adheres to all applicable state and local regulations. Despite this, the governor’s office emphasized the need for transparency, with Mikie Sherrill, the state’s leader, stating, “The people of New Jersey deserve transparency and accountability, and I will continue using all the power of this office to advocate for the detainees and their families.”
Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed facility, is operated by The GEO Group, a private contractor responsible for managing 21 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sites, according to its official website. The state’s lawsuit highlights the operator’s refusal to grant full access to inspectors, which has hindered efforts to assess the facility’s conditions. “As a result of GEO’s refusal to permit the state health department meaningful access to Delaney Hall, Plaintiff remains unable to fulfill his obligation to protect public health,” the lawsuit stated. It further claims the operator has not allowed officials to determine whether the facility endangers residents or the public through unsanitary or unsafe practices.
Meanwhile, the city of Newark has also escalated its legal efforts against The GEO Group. The city’s business administrator, Eric Pennington, revealed that Newark intends to broaden its case against the operator, potentially seeking the facility’s closure until inspections can be conducted. This follows longstanding complaints about the site’s conditions, which have now reached a critical point after a week of demonstrations outside the center. Protesters, some of whom clashed with law enforcement, voiced grievances over alleged mistreatment of detainees, with the city preparing to expand its legal challenges beyond code enforcement violations.
Reports of inadequate medical care and psychological abuse have fueled the controversy. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, speaking at a press conference, said, “The reports of detainees … receiving inadequate medical care, psychological abuse is troubling.” He added that the city plans to bring new allegations to the attention of the judge overseeing the case, aiming to persuade him to reconsider the facility’s operation. “Our objective is to close the building,” Baraka stated, “and the people who have the greatest ability to close the building is GEO Group.”
Protests against Delaney Hall gained momentum over Memorial Day weekend when detainees, as reported by their representatives, initiated a hunger and labor strike to protest conditions they described as inhumane. This action led to several arrests and heightened public scrutiny of the facility. The incidents are part of a wider national debate over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies, which critics argue have resulted in widespread abuses and poor treatment of detainees.
The GEO Group has faced scrutiny for its management of Delaney Hall, particularly after the city of Newark filed its own lawsuit in 2025. That case claimed the operator had not secured the necessary state permits before reopening the center, which had previously functioned as an ICE detention facility. The legal battle was later moved to federal court, and a judge this year ordered the case to proceed through private mediation. Despite this, Newark remains determined to push for accountability, with the city’s lawsuit now expanded to include new claims of mistreatment.
On Monday, New Jersey officials attempted to inspect the facility again, but their efforts were blocked by The GEO Group. The state health department was only allowed to examine the food service area, according to the lawsuit. “In denying Plaintiff full access to the facility, Defendant never explained how Plaintiff’s request was at all burdensome,” the state argued in its filing with Essex County Superior Court. “Nor did they clarify why Plaintiff would need to route its request through ICE when GEO Group owns and operates Delaney Hall.”
The state’s legal action underscores a growing tension between state and federal authorities over the oversight of immigration facilities. While DHS claims that Delaney Hall complies with all laws, the state asserts that limited access has prevented a thorough evaluation of the center’s conditions. “ICE is regularly audited and inspected by external agencies,” the DHS stated in a Tuesday press release, citing recent inspections of the food service area by New Jersey health officials. However, the state maintains that these inspections were insufficient and that full access was necessary to uncover the full extent of the issues.
As the lawsuits unfold, both state and city officials are pushing for greater accountability from The GEO Group. The city of Newark has already demanded access to the facility, and the state’s case adds pressure to ensure that inspections are conducted without interference. With public demonstrations and legal challenges intensifying, the future of Delaney Hall remains uncertain, and the outcome could set a precedent for how immigration detention centers are monitored and regulated.