Immigration and Customs Enforcement has signed a contract for a 1,000-bed facility to be built in Newark, New Jersey.
Next to the Essex County Jail, Delaney Hall will be the first major deportation center built under the Trump administration. New Jersey Monitor.
New Jersey Democrats have been offensive over the new contract, many violating the speed at which the Trump administration moved to facilities.
Rep. Rob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, said that the Trump administration had planned contracts, “there are no prime ministers.” “If they didn't think the threat was already real, their eyes should be wide open now,” he added of the administration's plans.
New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy also denounced the announcement, saying he was “very disappointed” in the news.
“Our administration has previously fought to limit such entities that have been open to our states, and we will continue to do so,” the governor's office said Thursday.
The agreement was signed with the GEO Group, a secure facility operator that provides “access to security, maintenance, food service and recreational amenities, medical and legal advisors.” press release.
“Locations near the international airport help streamline logistics and promote timely processing of individuals in custody. We pursue President Trump's mission to arrest, detain and remove illegal aliens from our community.”
“Our owned Delaney Hall facility will play a key role in providing the detention bed space and support services needed for ICE in the Northeast,” said Geo Executive Chairman George C. Zoley. “We continue to prepare for what we believe is an unprecedented opportunity to help the federal government meet its expanded immigration enforcement priorities. We are taking several important steps to meet this opportunity, including investing in previously announced $70 million in capital expenditure, which strengthens our ability to provide expanded detention capacity, safe transportation, electronic surveillance and related services to ICE and the federal government.”
“This is a unique moment in our company's history,” Zoley said. I said GEO adds that it is now “the biggest ice contractor.”
Geo Group signed a 15-year contract worth about 1 billion over the period.
Delaney Hall was last used in 2017 as a detention centre. Plans were being made to use the facility again, but New Jersey tried to pass the law with the exception of private companies, except for contracts with New Jersey ICE. However, the law was invalidated in 2023 by a federal judge as unconstitutional. The state has appealed the ruling and the lawsuit remains unresolved.
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