McIver Leads Democrats in Field Hearing and Visit to Delaney Hall

NEWARK, NJ– Today, Representative LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), and Democratic members of the House Committee on Homeland Security held a field hearing in Newark, New Jersey, to examine the conditions at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center. Following the hearing, members traveled to the facility to conduct an oversight visit at Delaney Hall.

The oversight inspection provided members an opportunity to assess conditions firsthand. McIver noted, after the visit, that ICE and GEO Group employees at Delaney Hall did not allow the members of Congress to actually speak with detainees—this was the first time that piece of their oversight had been limited. McIver also noted that last night ICE transferred over 30 people out of Delaney Hall and had transferred many more in the preceding weeks.

In a press conference following the visit, McIver made brief comments. Footage of that press conference is available here.

“Today, the GEO Group, along with ICE, used their administrative policy to tell us that we are not allowed, as members of Congress, to speak to detainees who are here, which is some B.S. I want to let them know that we're going to be fighting that decision, and we're going to make sure we take them right back to court,” said McIver. 

“From day one of coming to this facility with both my colleagues, Rob Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman, we have been demanding that this place be shut down. It should not be open. Folks in here are being denied due process. They are being served food that is not good, that is moldy. They are not getting the medical attention that they deserve. They are being retaliated against for speaking out and speaking to their members of Congress,” McIver continued. “[ICE] has transferred over 30 people from [Delaney] last night. When we came here just a week and a half ago, there were close to 700 detainees, and now they tell us today that they have 481 people here. These people have been retaliating against and transferring [detainees], and we will not stand for it.”

At the hearing, titled “The Human Cost of Immigration Enforcement and Detention: Conditions and Oversight at Delaney Hall,” the members of Congress heard from expert witnesses, local leaders, and an American citizen veteran who was detained by ICE at Delaney Hall. Witnesses testified on the conditions at the facility and major concerns regarding transparency.

In recent weeks, reports of a detainee hunger strike and protests outside of the facility have made Delaney Hall a focal point for concerns about the treatment of detained individuals under the Trump administration. And since a congressional oversight visit conducted by McIver and colleagues in May 2025, Delaney Hall has faced concerns about the ability of members of Congress to conduct meaningful oversight on behalf of their constituents. (Delaney Hall is the detention center where the incident, now at the center of the Trump administration’s case against McIver, occurred. That case is ongoing.)

“I am glad my Democratic colleagues and I came to Delaney Hall today to continue to expose the dangerous conditions inside – and the complete lack of oversight,” said Rep. Thompson. “What we heard – and saw – describes a system collapsing under secrecy, neglect, profiteering, and disregard for human life. It is clear Delaney Hall must be closed. I thank Congresswoman McIver for hosting us today and for leading the fight on not allowing these abuses to go unchallenged.”

“What we have seen with our own eyes at Delaney Hall is a clear example of the Trump administration’s intent to ignore the humanity of detainees, stonewall legal oversight, and quell any dissent from his opposition,” said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). “Considering the free reign ICE has been given to blatantly attack demonstrators outside in front of cameras, hiding what’s really happening inside the facility from public view raises serious concerns about the deplorable conditions experienced by detainees. I’m grateful to Ranking Member Bennie Thompson and members of the Homeland Security Committee for engaging with our delegation in our oversight responsibilities.”

“We are committed to telling the stories of those inside Delaney Hall, no matter how much the Trump Administration tries to hide them from Congress and the public,” said Rep. Menendez (NJ-08). “Today’s shadow hearing and visit were a critical opportunity to provide critical oversight and attention to what those held at Delaney face every single day. We will continue fighting to expose the unacceptable practices at Delaney Hall and to close this facility once and for all.”

“The Trump administration keeps finding ways to block Congress’s oversight of Delaney Hall, but as our hearing today demonstrated, we will not be intimidated. I thank the witnesses for their testimony and commend the courage, bravery, and resilience of detainees collectively raising their voices, demanding humane conditions, and respect for their rights at Delaney Hall. This facility should be closed. No more tax dollars flowing to a for-profit company profiting on the misery and suffering of our neighbors. Enough is enough,” said Rep. Nellie Pou (NJ-09).

“What’s happening at Delaney Hall is nothing short of medical abuse,” said Rep. Analilia Mejia (NJ-11).  “As lawmakers, we must continue shining a light on the conditions inside those walls and serve as the eyes and ears of families whose loved ones are being detained there. I’m grateful to join several of my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee in conducting needed oversight at Delaney Hall. It is long past time to shut down Delaney Hall and claw back the taxpayer dollars being handed to ICE and DHS to fuel the active destruction of our fellow human beings.”

“Oversight is not optional; it is a constitutional responsibility. Today’s Democratic Forum was necessary because the allegations regarding Delaney Hall Detention Facility cannot be ignored,” said Rep. Al Green (TX-09). “It is our duty to seek the truth when serious questions are raised about the treatment of persons in the care, custody, and control of the federal government. Congress has a responsibility to investigate these concerns firsthand. Human dignity and safety are not contingent upon immigration status. Every person in government custody deserves humane treatment. No human detention facility should be beyond decency, humanity, transparency, and accountability.”

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