"Inside Delaney Hall: A Look at the Controversial ICE Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey"
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"Inside Delaney Hall: A Look at the Controversial ICE Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey"
[!CDATA[A recent visit to a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for trespassing, has shed light on the facility. The two-story, 1,000-bed Delaney Hall is one of the largest detention centers in the Northeast. Despite being part of a $1 billion, 15-year deal between ICE and the GEO Group, the facility is currently only at 15% capacity since opening on May 1, with 152 detainees, most of whom have criminal convictions or pending criminal convictions. Acting ICE director Todd Lyons provided CBS News with a tour of Delaney Hall, showcasing various facilities within the center, including outdoor recreational areas, bunk beds, medical exam rooms, a cafeteria, and secure booths for detainees to contact their lawyers or family members. Lyons emphasized that detainees at the facility receive due process and are treated in a safe and humane manner. The Trump administration's immigration crackdown has led to discussions about suspending the writ of habeas corpus for individuals deemed to be in the country illegally. While ICE officials did not address concerns about due process being taken away, they highlighted the importance of cooperation with sanctuary jurisdictions to increase the population at the facility by arresting more criminal aliens. Delaney Hall, previously a halfway house, was reestablished as a federal immigration processing and detention center under President Trump's second term. Located near Newark Liberty International Airport, the facility aims to streamline logistics for processing individuals in ICE custody. Mayor Baraka, who was arrested during a visit to the facility, criticized the oversight of the privately owned center, alleging that proper permits were not obtained and inspections were blocked by the GEO Group. In response to Baraka's allegations, the GEO Group denied any wrongdoing, stating that they had valid permits and accusing sanctuary city and open borders politicians in New Jersey of interfering with federal efforts to arrest, detain, and deport dangerous criminal illegal aliens. The controversy surrounding the facility highlights the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and the treatment of detainees in ICE custody.]]