The No ICE in North Jersey Alliance (Project NINJA) Responds to Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Press Conference: Important To Re-Center Delaney Hall Detainees and Their Loved Ones

ROXBURY, May 29 - Governor Mikie Sherrill’s press conference earlier today, in which she explained the establishment of a “protected protest” zone, and the new presence of the New Jersey State Police, avoided focusing attention on the needs of detainees. To end the abuse at Delaney Hall, her administration must take concrete steps to protect the detainees and work toward closing the facility.

“We need to be focused not only on the protest outside Delaney Hall, but the unlawful action taking place inside Delaney Hall, which remains the reason for the protest,” said William Angus, spokesperson and co-founder of the No ICE in North Jersey Alliance (Project NINJA). The strike is now an almost unanimous work strike.

In her statement, Gov. Sherrill said, “I will not give ICE the pretext to expand operations in our state. For that reason, New Jersey law enforcement is establishing a peaceful, protected protest zone in the area right outside Delaney Hall. Our top priority is public safety, and we need to take this opportunity to lower the temperature now."

But detainees needs remain unmet:

• Detainee safety: The basic human rights of the people inside Delaney Hall matter as much as the safety of those outside. Numerous accounts from detainees report abuses in violation of human rights provisions of the United Nations, a situation that has escalated in recent days.. Gov. Sherrill must assure the public that she is taking forceful action to protect detainees.
• Public oversight: The action of setting up a “protected protest” zone — the focus of today’s press conference — bars the public from what had been an important part of their presence: bearing witness and providing video evidence of detainees being unlawfully transferred, and of the brutality inflicted on protestors outside Delaney Hall. At a time when even elected officials and representatives of state agencies are not being allowed to inspect operations, citizen oversight is vital.
• Political action: Despite limited authority over the federal government, the state must explore every possible avenue to prevent further human and civil rights violations and close Delaney Hall. Possible steps include:
  • Filing a preliminary injunction to require Geo Group to have state supervision and demonstrate they are providing adequate medical care, food and water;
  • Revoking the business license of Geo Group in the state of New Jersey; and
  • Arresting ICE agents wearing masks in direct violation of New Jersey law.

Project NINJA stands in community not only with organizations across the country working to protect their communities from ICE prisons, but also with organizations who have been on the ground at Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center for, in some cases, 30 years. These include ACLU NJ, Cosecha NJ, the Eyes on ICE Alliance, Pax Christi, and many others.

About the No ICE in North Jersey Alliance (Project NINJA)

The No ICE in North Jersey Alliance (Project NINJA) is a volunteer coalition of community, religious, environmental, town-planning, civil-rights, and activist groups working to prevent the establishment of ICE detention facilities in North Jersey communities. Project NINJA advocates for humane immigration policies and opposes the expansion of detention infrastructure. Learn more at no-roxbury-jails.com.