The Department of Homeland Security poured cold water on Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s (D-NJ) claims that the department caved to her demands to restore family visitation at the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in New Jersey.
Sherrill had hailed the resumption of visits as a victory following days of protests, a detainee hunger strike, and mounting criticism of conditions inside the Newark facility.
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The governor said she and other state officials had pressed federal authorities to restore access for detainees’ families and attorneys after visitation was halted.
But DHS disputed that characterization.
“We did not cave to the Governor’s demands,” a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “Visitation was suspended because the violent riots outside the facility made it unsafe for our officers, detainee’s families and lawyers to visit the facility.”
The department said operations at Delaney Hall are continuing as normal and that visitation can resume now that authorities have established a secure perimeter around the facility.
“To be clear: Visitation was only suspended because of violent riots,” the spokesperson said. “Now that we have a secure perimeter, visitation can resume.”
Members of the New Jersey congressional delegation and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) performed an oversight inspection of the facility on Sunday.
Jeffries said he spoke with several individuals who have no criminal record but have been detained at the center for months.
“This is not America,” Jeffries said in a video posted on X, adding that there are inadequate conditions, including the lack of access to quality food and medical treatment. “Delaney Hall should be shut down.”
Tensions over the conditions at Delaney Hall have been brewing for the past week.
Delaney Hall is a privately operated immigration detention center run by GEO Group under contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The facility has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement and detention policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Protests intensified in recent days after detainees alleged poor living conditions and launched a hunger strike. Demonstrators gathered outside the facility nightly, leading to confrontations with federal officers and multiple arrests.
Federal officers have accused protesters of assaulting officers, blocking access to the facility, and creating unsafe conditions, and creating unsafe conditions, allegations disputed by some advocates and Democratic officials.
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE CLASH WITH PROTESTERS AT DELANEY HALL AFTER SHERRILL’S INTERVENTION
Sherill has been one of the facility’s most vocal critics. She previously said state health inspectors were denied full access during an attempted inspection and has called for greater transparency regarding conditions inside Delaney Hall.
The state recently deployed New Jersey State Police to oversee public safety around the detention center and establish designated protest areas after days of clashes between demonstrators and federal agents.
