SouthernWorldwide.com – Governor Mikie Sherrill has publicly accused U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of obstructing her access to Delaney Hall, a detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.
The facility has recently come under intense scrutiny due to a surge of lawsuits, protests, and allegations concerning unsafe living conditions for detainees.
“ICE is denying me entry to Delaney Hall — raising serious questions about what is happening behind its walls,” Sherrill stated on the social media platform X.
This is not the first time the Democratic governor has been prevented from visiting the center. She had previously attempted to gain access during the Memorial Day weekend but was reportedly turned away.
Governor Sherrill revealed that her concerns were amplified after a recent meeting with family members of individuals currently held at Delaney Hall.
“Last night in Jersey City, I met with families whose loved ones are being detained there,” Sherrill shared. “What I heard only deepened my concerns.”
She detailed the distressing accounts shared by these families, describing conditions as “unsafe, inhumane, and unconstitutional.” These reports included allegations of detainees being denied adequate medical care and medication.
Furthermore, families reported instances of violence and intimidation within the facility. Detainees allegedly faced threats of losing phone and video access, and visitation privileges being revoked.
Most concerning were the deeply troubling accounts of detainees allegedly being pressured to sign deportation papers without proper translation services. This raises significant ethical and legal questions about the treatment of individuals within the facility.
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Governor Sherrill emphasized her commitment to pursuing accountability and advocating for improved conditions at Delaney Hall. She reiterated her ultimate goal of seeing the facility shut down.
Her statements followed a significant development earlier in the week: New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that the state had filed a lawsuit against GEO Group Inc.
GEO Group Inc. is the private company contracted by the Department of Homeland Security to manage and operate the Delaney Hall detention center.
The lawsuit specifically aims to secure access for the New Jersey Department of Health to conduct an inspection of the facility. This request stems from previous alleged denials of entry to state and local officials, including Governor Sherrill.
The legal filing also takes into account reports that some detainees have initiated a hunger strike in protest of the conditions they are enduring within the center.
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In response to the lawsuit, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement dismissing the legal action as “frivolous.”
Governor Sherrill has also faced a degree of criticism from various Newark officials, activists, and law enforcement supporters regarding her handling of demonstrations that have occurred outside the facility.
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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka expressed his disagreement with the tactics employed by the New Jersey State Police. He described the agency as “a sword” after they were deployed to ensure security around Delaney Hall.
Earlier on Saturday, Governor Sherrill defended the deployment of the New Jersey State Police Public Safety Response Team. She stated that their presence was “absolutely necessary to protect public safety and avoid escalation.”
