Pallone, Mejia Conduct Unannounced Oversight Visit to Delaney Hall, Press for Additional Reforms

NEWARK, N.J. - U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone Jr. and Analilia Mejia today conducted an unannounced oversight visit to the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility, where they met with detainees and facility management to press for additional improvements to conditions inside the facility.

The visit comes after the restoration of family visitation and the release of several pregnant women from Delaney Hall following weeks of advocacy from peaceful protestors, Democratic Members of Congress, and Governor Mikie Sherrill. During the visit, Pallone and Mejia conveyed a series of demands to GEO Group and the Trump Administration, including the release of vulnerable detainees, expanded access to medical care and prescriptions, and stronger protections for due process.

At the conclusion of the oversight visit, New Jersey Democratic lawmakers, including Representatives Pallone, Mejia, Watson Coleman, Norcross, and Pou issued the following statement:

"The restoration of family visitation and release of several pregnant women follows sustained advocacy from peaceful protestors, Democratic Members of Congress, and Governor Sherrill.

While these are small but meaningful improvements, serious concerns remain. As Members of Congress, we have unique oversight powers that we will continue to use to ensure just and humane conditions are upheld at Delaney Hall. Today, Representatives Pallone and Mejia represented our delegation during an unannounced oversight visit to Delaney Hall to meet with detainees and convey demands to improve conditions.

We remain committed to our oversight responsibilities and will continue to conduct announced and unannounced visits to inspect the conditions at Delaney Hall on a sustained and recurring basis. We will do this for as long as the conditions reported to us by members of the community and impacted families warrant. Our aim is to ensure the health and safety of all detainees and workers alike.

Ultimately, Delaney Hall must be shut down. We must continue to fight the abuses being carried out by ICE and DHS and hold the Trump Administration accountable."

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