Senator Kim and Congressman Menendez Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall after Reports of Inhumane Treatment
Senator Kim and Congressman Menendez Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall after Reports of Inhumane Treatment
NEWARK, N.J. – Yesterday, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Congressman Rob Menendez (D-N.J.-08) returned to Delaney Hall Detention Facility to conduct a congressional oversight visit following reports of ICE retaliating against those detained inside the facility and hundreds beginning a hunger and labor strike in protest of the inhumane conditions.
On their visit, the representatives were able to speak with around 100 or more detainees who explained the disgusting food they’re being provided, lack of medical treatment, and poor water quality, which Senator Kim was able to taste himself.
“This place needs to shut down. It is not reflective of our constitution, of our laws, of how people, anybody in this country, should be treated,” said Senator Kim. “That is why I was here with Congressman Menendez. We're going to continue to fight for their rights, fight for their treatment, and make sure that we can do everything we can to restore our country's rule of law, and our belief in our values in immigration.”
(Also on: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Substack, Threads, and BlueSky)
READ about the visit in today’s The Jersey Vindicator article entitled, “New Jersey lawmakers condemn conditions inside Delaney Hall detention center in Newark”
The article reports: ““These are the types of tactics that shows the cruelty is the point,” Kim said as he stood in the rain outside the 1,000-bed facility. “Cruelty is what this administration, what [U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement] is trying to do.”
WATCH additional coverage by PIX11 entitled, “Lawmakers demand changes at ICE detention facility in NJ”
The article reports: Senator Andy Kim and Congressman Rob Menendez toured the facility and spoke with detainees inside. Afterward, they addressed family members outside who are demanding change. The officials said they also spoke to facility staff. “We talked to them about what we heard from the detainees, especially about the lack of medical access,” said Senator Andy Kim. “We talked about how there are pregnant women who have not been able to get the medical [care] and we told them to follow up immediately. We will be following up to see whether or not there are any changes on that front.”
Today’s visit builds on months of work by Senator Kim to close Delaney Hall and end inhumane detention across the country, including previous inspections and direct visits with those detained. This past week, the Senator filed a series of reforms to rein in the Trump administration's lawless ICE, including specifically to end inhumane detention at Delaney Hall. He has also introduced a package of legislation to end warehouse detention nationwide and prevent taxpayer dollars from funding ICE’s lawlessness.
