The White House adviser for border affairs, Tom Homan, came to the defense of the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in New Jersey, after activists, legislators and state authorities denounced alleged inadequate conditions within the facilities operated for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).

Faced with serious accusations, Homan personally toured the center and rejected accusations of overcrowding, sanitary problems and deficiencies in the care of detainees.

"Is it a five-star resort? No. But is it a well-run detention center? Yes," Homan said during an interview with CBS News. In addition, he took the opportunity to say that the food there is good: “The spaghetti was good,” he said. "And I'm a pretty big guy and I didn't finish them. I couldn't finish the plate."

Protests and complaints around Delaney Hall

The Delaney Hall center has become a focus of protests since late May; Immigrant rights organizations and Democratic lawmakers have pointed out alleged poor conditions inside the facilities, including ventilation problems, insufficient medical care and concerning sanitary conditions.

Criticism increased after some officials claimed that several detainees began a hunger strike as a form of protest. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied that such a strike occurred and rejected accusations about the state of the center.

Additionally, the New Jersey Attorney General filed a lawsuit against GEO Group, a private company that manages Delaney Hall under contract to ICE. The legal action alleges that state health inspectors were not given full access to the facilities to conduct their evaluations.

Homan rejects accusations of overcrowding

During the interview, Homan insisted that the complaints respond to political opposition against President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

“It is about closing those facilities,” said the official, who assured that some sectors even seek the elimination of ICE.

Regarding reports of overcrowding, he indicated that Delaney Hall has capacity for a thousand people, but currently houses 706 detainees, a figure that, according to him, shows that there is no overcrowding.

Although he acknowledged that there are always aspects that can be improved, he stated that the health and safety of migrants are not compromised.

ICE will expand operations in New York

Homan also confirmed that ICE plans to increase its activity in New York due to “sanctuary city” policies, which limit cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration agents.

Likewise, he pointed out that during international events such as the World Cup, the priority will be public safety and not the carrying out of massive immigration operations.

“There is no priority to carry out an immigration control operation in these events,” he assured.

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