Newark Mayor Plans Lawsuit to Shut Down Immigration Center

The mayor of Newark plans to file a lawsuit that would close the Delaney Hall detention facility after ten days of confrontations between protestors and police. He argues that the center poses serious health and safety risks, citing problems reported by residents and observers. The lawsuit targets the GEO Group, which manages the one‑thousand‑bed New Jersey facility. The city’s chief has already imposed a nighttime curfew from nine at night to six in the morning. Even with this restriction, demonstrators gathered outside the center and some directed harsh language at a councilwoman who had urged calm. The woman was recorded speaking loudly while holding an officer’s hand, a moment that sparked criticism from some viewers.

Videos released by activist groups show chants calling for the end of ICE and police authority. Police records indicate that more than sixty arrests were made on Monday night, and some protestors were transported by bus to increase tension. On the weekend, masked participants damaged barriers set up for safety and started fires with tires, actions that authorities say endanger both protestors and officers. The detention center has been the focus of protests for over a week, with activists highlighting conditions faced by those held there. The Department of Homeland Security has denied these claims, stating that all detainees receive three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, toiletries, and the chance to contact family and legal counsel. The agency also notes that detainees receive comprehensive healthcare, which many consider the best they have ever had. A federal official visited the center recently and reported that he ate the same food as detainees, suggesting no evidence of a hunger strike or substandard conditions.

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