Controversy Surrounds DHS Detention Practices
Rep. LaMonica McIver from New Jersey expressed her outrage on Wednesday regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) approach to detaining undocumented immigrants. She pointed out that, according to her observations, all individuals held at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark are people of color, which she labeled a racist bias.
“Secretary Mullin, during today’s hearing, you spoke about racism. Are you aware of what it truly means? The reality that every single detainee at Delaney Hall is a person of color highlights a troubling issue,” McIver stated. She accused Secretary of DHS Mark Wayne Mullin of misusing the immigration system to address what she described as the administration’s racist sentiments.
Statistics indicate that only about 7% of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. originate from Europe, Canada, and Oceania, while a significant 68% come from Mexico and Central America, with 12% arriving from South America, according to the Migration Policy Research Institute.
Meanwhile, there were significant disturbances outside Delaney Hall, resulting in hundreds of arrests. Demonstrators claimed that detainees were facing inhumane conditions. Governor Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey placed blame on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, accusing them of violence against peaceful protests urging for improved treatment of detainees.
“Public safety is my primary concern, and I am dedicated to upholding our constitutional rights,” Sherrill remarked. She emphasized that ICE should not have the freedom to encroach upon communities unchallenged and expressed her commitment to ensuring that detainees at Delaney Hall are treated humanely.
In a related note, a federal grand jury indicted McIver in June of 2025 on charges of assaulting and obstructing a federal officer during a protest outside Delaney Hall. She allegedly pushed against a federal officer while seeking to exert congressional oversight.
Initially charged in May 2025, McIver has pleaded not guilty, asserting that the charges are politically motivated. She asserted that the current administration is attempting to distort her actions and stifle legislative review. “These charges are not legitimate and serve solely to undermine my advocacy for my district’s needs,” she expressed, also voicing her anticipation for the truth to emerge during legal proceedings.
If found guilty, McIver could face a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison, accounting for the severity of her charges as outlined by the Department of Justice.
