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Delaney Hall
BERJAYA
BERJAYA
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  • Detainees wave at protesters from windows, May 25
  • ICE agents outside the facility, May 28
  • Riot police outside the facility, May 31, 2026
Map
Interactive map of Delaney Hall
Location
StatusOpen
Security classMinimum–medium
Capacity1,196[1][2][3]
Opened2011–2017
2023 (closed)
2025 (re-opened)
Managed byGEO Group

Delaney Hall is a facility used for immigrant detention in Newark, New Jersey, United States. The private prison is managed by the GEO Group under contract for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which awarded GEO Group a US$1 billion contract for 15 years.[4] Delaney Hall previously held immigrant detainees from 2011 to 2017. The facility re-opened in 2025 and has an authorized capacity of up to 1,196.

It is the largest facility of its type on the East Coast of the United States and the largest of the two in New Jersey, the other being the Elizabeth Detention Center.[5] Both facilities are located near Newark Liberty International Airport and are used for the entire New York metropolitan area. It is located in an industrial area of Newark, neighbored by a natural-gas plant, a sewage-treatment facility, and an animal-fat–rendering plant amongst other facilities.[4]

Delaney Hall has received significant media attention due to the arrest of the mayor of Newark during an oversight visit, poor facility living conditions and allegations of abuse by guards, a death in the facility as well as multiple hospitalizations, and detainee escapes from the facility over allegations of poor conditions. Detainees held a 30-day hunger strike which led to an escalation of protests outside the facility, leading to violent clashes between ICE agents and protesters blocking vehicles from entering the facility, as well as mass arrests of protesters and journalists and retaliation against strikers inside the facility.

Background and operation before 2025

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Delaney Hall opened in 2000 and had been used to house federal, state, and county detainees.[6] It was named to honor Geraldine O. Delaney, a pioneer in New Jersey drug and addiction treatment. While initially designed as a rehabilitation center, the facility later transitioned to a high-capacity detention center operated by the GEO Group.[7][8] GEO Group operated the facility from 2011 to 2017, at the time having a 450 capacity for immigrant detainees. It was then used as a drug rehabilitation center and halfway house until 2023, when it was vacated. In 2021, New Jersey passed legislation prohibiting local jails and private facilities from housing immigrant detainees. It was challenged in court and in 2023, the statute was struck down.[2][9]

Reopening in 2025

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The Geo Group entered into a 15-year contract with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to operate the facility, which was announced on February 26, 2025.[10][11][12] Caleb Vitello, then-acting Director of ICE, stated, "The location near an international airport streamlines logistics, and helps facilitate the timely processing of individuals in our custody as we pursue President Trump’s mandate to arrest, detain and remove illegal aliens from our communities.”[10]

Soon after, Mayor of Newark Ras Baraka, stated that that the GEO Group had not complied with standard municipal building and safety regulations.[13] Newark sued the GEO Group in New Jersey Superior Court in March, alleging that the facility did not have a valid certificate of occupancy (CO). In April, the case was transferred to federal court, where a judge was weighing Newark's request to close the facility "pending inspection and compliance with local, State, and administrative codes".[5][14] When it opened in May 2025, the GEO Group stated that the certificate of occupancy issued in 2007 was still valid.[15] That assessment is challenged by the city. In May 2025, Mayor Baraka's office stated, "The Health Department found minor violations at Delaney Hall that were corrected on-site at the time of the inspection. There are no open health violations."[16][17]

May 2025 inspection visit and arrests

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On May 9, 2025, a confrontation and subsequent skirmish between law enforcement and four Democratic politicians occurred at Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, United States.

Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, was arrested and charged with trespassing, but the charges were later dropped. LaMonica McIver, one of the three U.S. representatives from New Jersey involved, was later charged with three counts of assaulting or interfering with a federal officer. McIver rejected the charges as an attempt at political intimidation.

Unrest, escape of detainees, transfer of women detainees

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On June 12, 2025, following days of Delaney Hall detainees complaining about unacceptable conditions and lack of food, a small uprising occurred and four people escaped the facility[18] after breaking through a sheet-rock interior wall.[19][20] Two of the men were recaptured after three days.[21] The third was captured shortly after, and the fourth was recaptured on July 18.[22] Following the unrest, around 50 women were transferred from Delaney Hall to El Paso, Texas, where they were held in a tent-like facility opened in 2023.[23]

Death of detainee Jean Wilson Brutus

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In December of 2025, 41-year-old Jean Wilson Brutus died while in custody at Delaney Hall. According to ICE, "On Dec. 11, 2025, Brutus entered ICE custody. He had no signs of distress during intake nor a medical history of cardiovascular issues." Roughly one day after arriving at Delaney Hall, ICE said that Brutus suffered a "medical emergency". He was brought to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead.[24][25][26] The reason for death has been described inconclusive.[27]

Hunger strike, protests, and incidents

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By row:
  • Banner drop outside the facility
  • ICE agents clash with protesters outside the facility
  • 3 and 4: Riot police clash with protesters outside the facility, May 2026

On May 22, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey, immigrants detained in Delaney Hall, a private prison run by GEO Group used for holding immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), held a month-long hunger and labor strike protesting conditions inside the facility. Detainees have been given expired food with worms or mold, sleep on the floor in overcrowded rooms, have been denied medical care for serious conditions, and have reportedly been abused by guards. Protests supporting the strikers escalated outside the facility with over 90 arrests. Conditions inside the facility worsened, with reports of batons, pepper spray, and tear gas being used against strikers and multiple ambulances arriving at the facility throughout the strike. The strikes ended due to actions taken by guards to intimidate, segregate, and discipline strikers, such as by putting strike leaders in solitary confinement, threatening to force-feed strikers, and transporting strikers to unknown facilities around the country.

Some protesters blocked ICE vehicles from entering or exiting the facility. ICE agents attacked protesters and journalists with batons, pepper spray, and tasers. Local officials including Governor Mikie Sherrill were denied access to the facility, and Senator Andy Kim was pepper sprayed by ICE while trying to de-escalate.

Governor Sherrill ordered the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) to take over operations outside the facility for ICE, and she also established "protest zones" for protesters to move inside, while Newark mayor Ras Baraka established an overnight curfew surrounding Delaney Hall. Riot police were then repeatedly deployed and used batons, pepper spray, tear gas, flash grenades, rubber bullets, horseback police, SWAT teams, armored vehicles, and undercover police to disperse, kettle, mass arrest, and criminally charge protesters who refused to leave, with many journalists being injured or arrested.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has characterized protesters as agitators and rioters, saying "There is NO hunger strike at Delaney Hall. There are NO subprime conditions or abuse at the facility."[28][29][30] Governor Sherrill accused some protesters of being from "national extremist groups" without naming specific groups,[31][32][33] and Mayor Baraka has criticized both protesters and police, saying the police's actions were "in some cases, unconstitutional."[34] Municipal, state, and federal actions have sparked significant backlash from advocacy groups and the political left.

Population

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A New York Times analysis reported that in early April 2026, Delaney Hall was holding 591 prisoners: 76 of them had criminal convictions and 123 faced criminal charges, according to government data. The data countered the DHS/ICE claims that most prisoners were criminals.[35]

Average daily population at Delaney Hall Detention Facility[36][37][citation needed]
Fiscal year ADP
FY 2010
395
FY 2011
510
FY 2012
911
FY 2013
829
FY 2014
852
FY 2015
536
FY 2016
539
FY 2017
679
FY 2019
781
FY 2020
506
FY 2025
234
FY 2026
905

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ City of Newark v. GEO Re-Entry Group, LLC (United States District Court for the District of New Jersey April 1, 2025), Text.
  2. 1 2 Kaulessar, Ricardo (January 28, 2025). "This Newark building could house ICE detainees if it reopens after a lawsuit against NJ". North Jersey Media Group.
  3. ↑ Corey, Booker (June 6, 2024). "Contract for the provision of immigration detention services at the Delaney Hall Facility" (PDF). Letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Patrick Lechleitner.
  4. 1 2 Janoski, Steve (September 25, 2025). "Inside New Jersey's troubled immigration detention center: 'It's designed to break people'". The Jersey Vindicator. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Raji, Tobi; Hernández, Arelis (May 10, 2025). "What to know about Delaney Hall, where Newark's mayor was arrested". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  6. ↑ "United States Senate Washington, DC 20510" (PDF). booker.senate.gov. June 6, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  7. ↑ Dolnick, Sam (June 18, 2012). "At Penal Unit, a Volatile Mix Fuels a Murder". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ Fahy, Claire (June 13, 2026). "Delaney Hall Is Named After Their Family. They Want It to Close". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  9. ↑ Hulac, Benjamin J. (July 23, 2025). "NJ can't block private immigrant detention centers, judges rule". NJ Spotlight News. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "ICE expands detention capacity with Delaney Hall Facility in New Jersey". www.ice.gov. February 26, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  11. ↑ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis; Tully, Tracey (February 27, 2025). "Trump to Reopen 1,000-Bed Detention Center for Migrants in New Jersey". The New York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  12. ↑ Nieto-Munoz, Sophie (April 19, 2024). "Private prison company eyes Newark site for new ICE jail". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  13. ↑ Vannozzi, Briana (February 28, 2025). "Newark mayor threatens stop-work order for ICE detention facility". NJ Spotlight News. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  14. ↑ Nieto-Munoz, Sophie (April 10, 2025). "Newark lawsuit aims to 'cripple' immigrant enforcement, prison company alleges". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  15. ↑ Nieto-Munoz, Sophie (May 5, 2025). "New migrant jail in Newark begins housing detainees despite legal challenge". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  16. ↑ Strunsky, Steve (May 23, 2025). "After inspection, Newark says violations were addressed at ICE facility". NJ.com. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  17. ↑ Duddridge, Natalie (May 5, 2025). "Newark, New Jersey facility begins housing detained migrants, prompting outrage from officials". CBS News. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  18. ↑ Tully, Tracey; Ferré-Sadurní, Luis; Vilchis, Raúl (June 14, 2025). "Inside the Tumult That Led 4 Men to Escape from a Migrant Facility". Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via NYTimes.com.
  19. ↑ Steve, Strunsky (June 12, 2025). "ICE detainees tear down a wall in uprising at N.J. detention facility, lawyer says". NJ.com. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  20. ↑ Lybrand, Zoe Sottile, Priscilla Alvarez, Holmes (June 13, 2025). "4 detainees escaped from a Newark ICE detention facility after advocates say poor conditions led to 'chaos'". CNN. Retrieved March 2, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ Marcius, Chelsia Rose (June 16, 2025). "2 of 4 Men Who Escaped From Immigration Detention Center Are Caught" – via NYTimes.com.
  22. ↑ Deliso, Meredith (July 18, 2025). "4th detainee who escaped from New Jersey ICE facility located in Los Angeles: FBI". ABC News.
  23. ↑ Ramirez, Cindy; Moore, Robert (June 16, 2025). "Women from turbulent New Jersey ICE detention facility moved to El Paso". El Paso Matters. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  24. ↑ Nieto-Munoz, Sophie (February 9, 2026). "Family of NJ migrant who died in federal custody seeks answers". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Delaney Hall Detainee Dies in ICE Custody, McIver Demands Accountability | U.S. House Representative LaMonica McIver". mciver.house.gov. December 19, 2025.
  26. ↑ Rohrlich, Justin (January 27, 2026). "Family of 'perfectly healthy' asylum-seeker who died in ICE custody demand answers". The Independent.
  27. ↑ Cayemitte, Fredner (January 14, 2026). "Family of Haitian man who died in ICE custody seeks own autopsy". The Haitian Times.
  28. ↑ Boyette, Chris; Dewberry, Sarah; Romine, Taylor (May 25, 2026). "Protesters clash with agents outside New Jersey ICE facility. Inside, detainees continue their hunger strike, attorneys say". CNN. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  29. ↑ Kim, CeFaan (May 26, 2026). "Tensions escalate between protesters, ICE agents at Delaney Hall in Newark". ABC7 New York. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  30. ↑ Olivares, José; Luscombe, Richard; Bekiempis, Victoria (May 26, 2026). "US senator says he was pepper-sprayed by federal agents during protest at ICE facility". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  31. ↑ Pazmino, Gloria; Riess, Rebekah; Tucker, Emma (June 1, 2026). "After weekend clashes, protests continue under curfew near Newark ICE facility". CNN. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  32. ↑ Rivard, Ry (June 4, 2026). "New Jersey's Mikie Sherrill rejects criticism of State Police response at Delaney Hall". Politico. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  33. ↑ Freifeld, Karen (May 30, 2026). "New Jersey governor blames out-of-state agitators for inflaming Newark ICE detention protests". Reuters. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  34. ↑ Sheldon, Chris (June 2, 2026). "Mayor calls police response to Delaney Hall protests 'overly aggressive, unnecessary'". NJ.com. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  35. ↑ Shanahan, Ed; Aleaziz, Hamed (June 6, 2026). "ICE Says Detainees Are 'Worst of the Worst.' Government Data Disagrees". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  36. ↑ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (September 30, 2019). "ICE Detention Statistics FY 2019". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Additional fiscal year data: FY20, FY25, FY26.
  37. ↑ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (July 10, 2017). "ICE DMCP Facility List — ERO Custody Management Division, FY2017" (PDF). U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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