U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) called for the immediate closure of the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark after an oversight visit this week [1].
The demand for closure comes amid escalating reports of inhumane treatment and civil unrest, signaling a growing political push to dismantle federal detention centers within New Jersey.
Booker described the conditions at the facility as "horrifying" [1]. He said, "Delaney Hall is a moral stain on New Jersey and must be shut down" [1].
The senator's condemnation follows allegations of contaminated food and retaliation against detainees [2]. Reports indicate that more than 30 detainees are currently on a hunger strike to protest these conditions [2]. Federal officials denied the allegations of inhumane treatment [2].
Other state leaders have joined the call for action. Gov. Mikie Sherrill said, "Delaney Hall should be closed down" [1]. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also said he urged for a state investigation into the facility's conditions [2].
The political tension has spilled into the streets of Newark. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the facility earlier this week [3]. The protests turned violent, resulting in at least 12 arrests [4].
Witnesses reported that agitators blocked ICE vehicles, prompting agents to use pepper spray [3]. The unrest coincides with the oversight visit and the subsequent calls for the site's removal from the state.
“"Delaney Hall is a moral stain on New Jersey and must be shut down."”
The alignment of a U.S. Senator, the Governor, and the Mayor of Newark creates a unified political front against the federal government's presence at Delaney Hall. By framing the facility as a 'moral stain,' Booker is shifting the conversation from administrative oversight to a human rights issue, increasing the pressure on federal authorities to relocate detainees or reform facility management.
