“DHS has finally admitted what we suspected all along: ICE used the Roxbury property to process and stage detainees on multiple occasions, potentially in violation of a court order restricting its use as an immigration detention facility. After weeks of denying that the property was being used for immigration enforcement operations, DHS has finally confirmed to my office that ICE used the site to process 14 detained individuals on September 4 and 8.

Let’s be clear: This was no accident. ICE officers deliberately misled the municipality and state by conducting processing operations with supervisory knowledge. According to communications with my office, only after whistleblowers raised concerns, did they cease activity. The fact that ICE describes potential illegal activity as ‘routine operating procedures’ should alarm every New Jerseyan,” said Congresswoman Mejia. 

“ICE does not get to cherry-pick which laws to follow. I will continue to demand answers, pursue oversight, and work with state officials to ensure this property is never again used outside the law.

ICE cannot be trusted to police itself. An agency that operates with impunity and answers to a Secretary who encourages suffering in detention must be abolished and replaced with a fair, just, and humane immigration system that respects due process and human dignity,” said Mejia.

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