New Jersey Attorney General Sues GEO Group Over Delaney Hall Conditions

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has initiated legal action against GEO Group, the operator of Delaney Hall, a facility overseen by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This lawsuit seeks to grant access for health inspectors to evaluate conditions at the center.

On Tuesday, Davenport publicly disclosed the lawsuit, emphasizing serious concerns regarding “inhumane and unsanitary conditions” faced by detainees, as noted in a press release.

“Reports about the conditions at Delaney Hall are shocking. Poor or no medical care, no toilet paper, insects in the food. Even reports of tuberculosis,” she mentioned.

The attorney general highlighted that this lawsuit aims to assert the New Jersey Department of Health’s right to conduct a thorough health inspection. Governor Mikie Sherrill (D.N.J.) and several lawmakers visited the detention center after detainees began a hunger strike, which led to ongoing protests outside the facility. To manage the situation, Sherrill directed state police to establish a “protected protest area.”

It was reported that GEO Group did not engage with state officials or health inspectors last week.

In a statement, Governor Sherrill remarked, “GEO Group, which has a $1 billion government contract, has nothing to hide, and if the conditions inside Delaney Hall are as safe and sanitary as this private company and the Trump administration claim, there is no good reason why my sanitary inspectors should not have full access to the entire building.”

“GEO Group must allow the state health inspector to conduct a full inspection of Delaney Hall. Reports of unsanitary and unsafe conditions within Delaney Hall are extremely concerning, and GEO Group, like other businesses and facilities in New Jersey, must comply with the law,” Davenport reinforced.

Since the facility began operations in May 2025, issues such as overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and reports of infectious diseases like COVID-19 have emerged, raising significant public health concerns.

Davenport continued on social media, stating, “ICE is denying entry to Delaney Hall, raising serious questions about what is happening behind its walls. Last night in Jersey City, I met with families whose loved ones were in custody. What I heard only deepened my concerns.”

She mentioned that detainees had expressed a desire to meet with her and that her long-term goal is to see Delaney Hall closed.

In response to the lawsuit, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described it as “frivolous,” asserting that there were no obstacles preventing health inspectors from entering the facility.

DHS stated, “This is a frivolous lawsuit. ICE values transparency and Delaney Hall complies with all required state and local laws. Just last week, representatives from the New Jersey Department of Health conducted an inspection and were allowed entry.”

The department emphasized that all detainees receive adequate food, clean water, medical care, and the opportunity to communicate with family and legal representatives.

DHS also addressed ongoing tensions outside the facility, maintaining that the violence surrounding Delaney Hall was part of a coordinated effort against staff.

“Our message is clear: We will identify, arrest and prosecute rioters who threaten or assault law enforcement to the fullest extent of the law,” they stated.