The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released mugshots and the criminal histories of detainees at New Jersey’s ICE detention centers, which have been under scrutiny from Democratic representatives and progressive activists.
A recent DHS press release confirmed that among those held at Delaney Hall Detention Center is a detainee named Chinchilla Caballero. He was apprehended with the assistance of the FBI Newark division due to outstanding warrants for alien arrest.
Caballero has reportedly been identified as a “known active member of the MS-13 gang” with multiple agreements involving various TECS watchdogs.
DHS’s release of information about some detainees comes following its visit to Delaney Hall for “federal oversight” alongside Representatives Ramonica McQuiver (D-NJ), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D).
“There is absolutely no transparency about what’s happening within ICE at this unacceptable facility,” McQuiver expressed on X. “Everyone deserves dignity and, more importantly, answers.”
Another detainee, Ramos Marin, has a red notice published by INTERPOL in April 2025. This notice suggests he is wanted in Brazil for murder under specific sections of their Criminal Code.
Also mentioned is Saravia Santa Maria, whose case involves agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and other law enforcement agencies, reportedly tied to various offenses.
Adonis Estevez Bello, aged 23, from the Dominican Republic, is another individual whose records were shared. He has faced multiple felony charges related to drug possession, trafficking, and illegal firearm possession.
A statement from attorney Alina Haba indicated that Mayor Baraka was taken into custody for “trespassing” at the detention center after disregarding several warnings.
“Mayor Baraka entered the facility despite being warned multiple times not to,” Haba noted. “He seemed willing to flout the law, and this won’t be tolerated.”
Around the same time, Baraka and other Democratic officials visited Delaney Hall to oversee operations following its designation as an ICE facility.
Delaney Hall has been leased for $63 million annually by the private prison company Geo Group. The city of Newark is currently pursuing a lawsuit to demand more oversight, stating that ICE has not adequately reported the number of detainees.
Bill Melugin from Fox News shared that DHS indicated two Congressional members had entered the Delaney Hall facility accompanied by protesters. Reports suggest there was a security breach during their visit.
“They were waiting for security to open the gates for ICE detainees and rushed past security when they got the chance,” Melugin reported. Videos appear to show Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and Menendez were present during the incident.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin responded, asserting that “congressional members creating disruptions at detention facilities undermines safety and is simply a political stunt.”
“These members don’t have the right to breach the law by entering the facilities unlawfully. If anyone had formally requested a tour, it would have been accommodated. This situation is quite fluid,” McLaughlin added.
