Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill Condemns Inhumane Detention Practices and Calls for Due Process Protections 

Newark, NJ - December 16, 2025 - Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill today denounced the continued detention of individuals at immigration facilities across the country, including Delaney Hall in Newark, calling the practices unlawful, inhumane, and a violation of Constitutional due process. Commissioner Gill emphasized that the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution apply to all people on American soil, including immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and American citizens.

“Those being held in detention centers deserve due process and the right to a fair and free trial,” Commissioner Gill said. “Under the Trump administration, thousands of individuals who are lawfully following the asylum process have been taken from their communities and detained without cause. Regardless of political beliefs, we must uphold the Constitution and defend the rights it grants.”

Commissioner Gill highlighted the case of Ali Sajad Faqirzada, an Afghan refugee who fled the Taliban with his family in search of safety. Mr. Faqirzada, a full-time student and security guard with no criminal record, was pursuing asylum through legal channels when he was detained at Delaney Hall. “His story reflects a disturbing national pattern—innocent, hardworking people denied their Constitutional rights despite complying with the law,” Gill said.

Calling for immediate action, Commissioner Gill urged an end to ICE’s unlawful arrests and demanded the release of all individuals being held at Delaney Hall and similar detention centers who have no criminal records or charges. “Refugees and immigrants deserve dignity, humanity, and the opportunity to lawfully pursue the American dream,” Gill concluded.