Many dangerous illegal immigrant criminals have been moved from detention centers in New Jersey, causing significant controversy as capacity at these facilities drops to just 20%.
The Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, the largest of its kind on the East Coast with 1,000 beds, now holds around 200 immigrants, according to Homeland Security officials.
This facility has drawn attention for various reasons, including an arrest of Newark’s Mayor and candidate for New Jersey governor, Russ Baraka, during a protest last month, and the recent escape of four detainees amidst unrest.
While the exact number of illegal immigrants transferred is uncertain, reports indicate that they include serious offenders like murderers and rapists.
Detainees were relocated to other centers in Texas and Pennsylvania.
Insiders have criticized the private contractors managing Delaney Hall, which only reopened in May following previous escapes.
Sources state that the Geo Group, responsible for running the facility, needs to establish “appropriate procedures” for security and staffing before taking on more detainees.
“For now, it looks like they’ll be left with less dangerous detainees until they address what went wrong and hold the responsible parties accountable,” one insider mentioned.
In February, the Geo Group secured a 15-year, billion-dollar contract with ICE to operate the detention center.
This facility has housed violent offenders, as Newark is often labeled a crime hub and a sanctuary city.
The four detainees who escaped were previously charged with assault and robbery.
Protests have occurred outside Delaney Hall, notably with state Democratic members raising concerns about the lack of proper permissions to operate the facility since it reopened.
“This is all about the mayor’s sanctuary policies, and it seems like he’s more focused on letting criminals out than on security,” a source stated.
“When protests disrupt security protocols and people are banging on our gates, it compromises the facility’s safety,” they added.
Protests are ongoing, especially following earlier incidents of escape.
The Geo Group has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the situation.
Interestingly, while some sources reported high levels of anxiety during the escape on Friday, the Department of Homeland Security contradicted this, asserting that there was no widespread concern on the day of the incident.
