Three members of Congress managed to enter a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in New Jersey on Friday, allowing for an unplanned “surveillance visit.” The representatives—Rob Menendez Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Lamonica McQuiver, who are all New Jersey Democrats—gained access to the Delaney Hall facility in Newark, according to a Homeland Security spokesperson.
This facility houses various inmates, including those suspected of serious crimes like murder, child rape, and gang activity.
The lawmakers were present outside the detention center alongside demonstrators. When the gates opened to allow ICE buses to enter, they rushed past security. Activists have been pressing for access, arguing that the facility’s new management, Geo Group, is blocking necessary inspections.
“Delaney Hall opened as an ICE facility in Newark without the city’s approval, defying local laws,” Coleman mentioned on social media.
McQuiver expressed concerns about the facility’s lack of transparency, stating, “People deserve dignity and need answers.” At a press conference, Newark Mayor Rus Baraka criticized Geo Group, suggesting that their behavior mirrored that of a president who believes he can operate above the law.
The city of Newark filed a lawsuit on April 1, claiming that Geo Group did not allow a safety inspection, in violation of local construction codes.
