NJ Sues for Detention Center Access
New Jersey Sues GEO Group for Full Access to ICE Detention Center Amid Health Concerns
New Jersey officials, including Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and Health Commissioner Raynard Washington, sued GEO Group in Essex County Superior Court to force full access to the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark for state health inspectors. The complaint alleges overcrowding, poor ventilation, inadequate medical care and hygiene, and unsanitary food and bathroom conditions that could spread communicable diseases, including COVID-19 and influenza, as well as potentially inadequate tuberculosis infection control. It says prior inspection access was partial or limited, including barriers to the medical unit and other key areas, and that inspectors were instead permitted mainly limited access focused on foodservice. The lawsuit followed protests and a reported hunger and labor strike by detainees that prompted visits by Gov. Mikie Sherrill and other lawmakers, who alleged detainees were denied essential care and served spoiled or rotten food. GEO Group and federal officials dispute the state’s claims; DHS says Delaney Hall complies with required laws and has said inspectors were allowed limited access while also denying the existence of a hunger strike as advocates and detainee reports contend conditions were unsafe and inhumane.
Key Points
New Jersey’s lawsuit alleges GEO Group turned away state health inspectors on **27 May**, saying the facility was dealing with “a high number of congressional visitors.” The next day, state officials say access was “severely limited” and they were denied entry to Delaney Hall’s **medical unit**.
Detainee accounts cited by New Jersey’s reporting included claims of not having basic hygiene items, including **“toilet paper, menstrual products or toothpaste,”** in addition to reports of spoiled or rotten food.
During coverage of protests outside Delaney Hall, **Sen. Andy Kim said he was hit with pepper spray** while visiting the facility on **25 May**.
In response to hunger-strike allegations, DHS Secretary **Markwayne Mullin** reportedly told the President: **“There was only a handful of individuals that was refusing to eat… because they want their ethnic group… or their ethnic right food. The fact is, we’re giving them the calories they want. This isn’t Holiday Inn.”**
New Jersey said GEO Group’s obstruction was tied to the inspector’s inability to reach beyond limited areas: the suit alleges GEO allowed inspectors only in the **food service areas**, with Gov. Sherrill stating that if Delaney Hall conditions are safe, there is “no legitimate reason” for state health inspectors to be kept out of the rest of the building.
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