The city of Newark, New Jersey, will escalate its legal battle against the Delaney Hall immigration detention center, run by the private company GEO Group under contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), after complaints surfaced about alleged inhumane conditions for detainees.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced that in the coming days he will ask the courts to close the facility, arguing that the operation of the center violates state and municipal regulations, in addition to posing a risk to the health and safety of detainees.

The decision comes amid growing controversy surrounding Delaney Hall, where activists and family members have held protests since late May. The protests intensified after reports of an alleged hunger strike among some of the approximately 300 immigrants held there.

Baraka maintained that the accusations received by the city include complaints of spoiled food, insufficient medical care and living conditions that, he claimed, do not meet basic standards of humane treatment.

New legal offensive against GEO Group

The city had already filed a lawsuit in April against GEO Group for allegedly making modifications to the facilities without complying with oversight procedures required by state authorities. Now, Newark is seeking to expand that court action to demand the closure of Delaney Hall while the allegations are investigated.

According to city officials, the complex is not on federal land, but on private property, so it must fully comply with the laws and regulations of New Jersey and the city of Newark.

The mayor noted that the legal strategy will initially focus on GEO Group and not the federal government. As explained, the private company has the direct ability to suspend the center's operations, which is why it considers it to be the most immediate objective to achieve the closure of the facilities.

At the same time, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport filed a lawsuit to force the company to allow full entry of state health inspectors. State officials say that during a visit last week, inspectors were only able to access limited areas of the building and were denied entry to key spaces, including the medical unit, dormitories and hygiene areas.

State and federal governments clash over complaints

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill supported the court action and questioned GEO Group's refusal to allow a comprehensive inspection of the facility. Among the most serious allegations is the case of a detained woman who allegedly suffered a spontaneous abortion without receiving adequate medical care. Local officials have also noted reports of food shortages and poor sanitary conditions.

However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rejected the allegations and called the state lawsuit baseless. The agency assured that Delaney Hall complies with applicable laws and that detainees receive adequate food, medical care, access to drinking water and communication with family members and lawyers.

As the legal dispute continues, tensions around the center have led to clashes between protesters and federal agents. Several people have been arrested during the protests.

Baraka reported that he is considering lifting the curfew recently imposed around the complex, after the most recent demonstrations passed without major incidents. Meanwhile, Delaney Hall's future could remain in the hands of the courts in the coming days, in a battle that reflects the growing national debate over conditions in U.S. immigration detention centers.

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