New Jersey sues Delaney Hall operators for access after allegations of inhumane conditions
New Jersey Launches Legal Action Against Delaney Hall Operators Over Alleged Inhumane Conditions
New Jersey sues Delaney Hall operators – On Tuesday, the state of New Jersey initiated a legal action against the private operator of Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention center in Newark, demanding court-ordered access to the facility. The lawsuit, announced by the governor’s office, centers on claims that detainees face inhumane treatment and poor living conditions. This comes amid sustained demonstrations outside the site, which escalated into confrontations with law enforcement over the past week. The federal government has yet to acknowledge these allegations, maintaining that the facility adheres to all required standards.
Protests Intensify as State Takes Legal Stand
Activists and community members have been rallying against Delaney Hall, alleging systemic mistreatment of detainees. The protests, which gained momentum over Memorial Day weekend, included a hunger strike and labor demonstrations led by detainees themselves. These actions prompted heightened scrutiny from local authorities and civil rights advocates. “The people of New Jersey deserve transparency and accountability,” said Gov. Mikie Sherrill in a statement. “I will continue using all the power of this office to advocate for the detainees and their families.”
“The people of New Jersey deserve transparency and accountability, and I will continue using all the power of this office to advocate for the detainees and their families,” Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a release.
Meanwhile, the city of Newark announced plans to broaden its own legal case against the facility’s operator, The GEO Group, unless officials are granted full inspection rights. Newark Business Administrator Eric Pennington emphasized that the city’s lawsuit would seek to close Delaney Hall temporarily to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. “The city’s expansion of the lawsuit would ask a court to close the facility until we can conduct a thorough inspection,” Pennington stated.
“As the result of GEO’s refusal to permit the (state health department) meaningful access to Delaney Hall, Plaintiff remains unable to fulfill his obligation to protect public health,” New Jersey said in its lawsuit.
Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed detention center, is managed by The GEO Group, a private contractor responsible for 21 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities nationwide. The state’s legal filing highlights the ongoing tension between New Jersey health officials and the facility’s management, accusing GEO of withholding access to critical areas. This restriction, the lawsuit argues, has hindered the state’s ability to assess whether the site poses risks to detainees or the broader public due to unsanitary and unsafe practices.
Broader Context of Immigration Enforcement Criticism
The allegations against Delaney Hall are part of a larger national debate over immigration policies under the Trump administration. Critics argue that the facility’s conditions reflect a broader pattern of systemic neglect in detention centers. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, speaking at a news conference, underscored the urgency of the situation. “The reports of detainees receiving inadequate medical care and experiencing psychological abuse are deeply troubling,” he said. “We are prepared to expand our lawsuit beyond code enforcement violations if necessary.”
“The reports of detainees … receiving inadequate medical care, psychological abuse is troubling,” prompting the city to prepare “to expand … our lawsuit against Delaney Hall further than just code enforcement violations,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a news conference Tuesday before the state lawsuit was announced.
The dispute over access to Delaney Hall reached a critical point during the Memorial Day weekend, when detainees launched a hunger strike to protest conditions they described as deplorable. This strike, according to their representatives, drew widespread attention and led to several arrests during subsequent demonstrations. The city of Newark, which had previously filed a lawsuit in 2025 over GEO’s failure to secure proper permits for the facility’s reopening, is now leveraging these recent events to push for stronger legal measures.
Delaney Hall had served as an ICE detention center for a decade before being handed over to The GEO Group. The city’s earlier case, initially heard in state court, was transferred to federal jurisdiction and recently moved to private mediation. Despite this shift, Newark officials remain determined to hold the operator accountable. “Our objective is to close the building,” Baraka stated. “The people who have the greatest ability to close the building is GEO Group.”
Federal Response to State and City Claims
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has dismissed the allegations, calling the state’s lawsuit “frivolous.” In a statement to CNN, the agency claimed that Delaney Hall complies with all state and local laws. “ICE is regularly audited and inspected by external agencies,” DHS representatives added, noting that New Jersey health officials had inspected the facility’s food service area just days prior. However, the state asserts that these inspections were limited in scope and did not provide full access to the site.
New Jersey’s lawsuit also critiques the lack of cooperation from The GEO Group, which allegedly blocked the state health department’s efforts to conduct a comprehensive inspection on Monday. The state argued that GEO’s refusal to grant access was unjustified, as the operator controls the facility entirely. “In denying Plaintiff full access to the facility, Defendant never explained how Plaintiff’s request was at all burdensome,” the lawsuit stated. “Nor did they justify routing the inspection process through ICE, which owns and operates Delaney Hall.”
As the legal battle unfolds, both the state and city of Newark are pushing for greater oversight of the detention center. The GEO Group has not yet responded to CNN’s request for comment on the new state lawsuit, but the dispute underscores growing concerns about the treatment of immigrants in New Jersey’s facilities. With public pressure mounting, officials from both levels of government are vying to ensure that Delaney Hall meets the standards expected of a place that holds hundreds of individuals in custody.
The ongoing conflict highlights the complex relationship between state authorities and private contractors managing federal detention sites. While the federal government maintains that Delaney Hall is compliant, the state and city of Newark are challenging that stance, arguing that full transparency is essential to safeguarding the rights and well-being of detainees. This case could set a precedent for future inspections and legal actions targeting immigration facilities nationwide.
Legacy of Protests and Legal Pressure
The protests outside Delaney Hall have drawn attention to the human cost of immigration enforcement policies. Demonstrators have highlighted instances of inadequate medical care, psychological abuse, and unsafe living conditions, arguing that these issues undermine the facility’s purpose. The hunger strike and subsequent clashes with law enforcement have amplified public sentiment, forcing officials to take legal action to address the grievances. With the state and city of Newark united in their demand for accountability, the future of Delaney Hall’s operations hangs in the balance.
