New Jersey has filed a lawsuit seeking full health inspections at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center as detainees continue a hunger strike and allegations of unsanitary conditions fuel ongoing protests and scrutiny.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has filed a lawsuit against Geo Group, the private company that operates the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center, seeking full access for state health inspectors amid allegations of unsanitary and inhumane conditions at the facility.
According to reports by The Guardian, the lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in New Jersey Superior Court in Newark and requests a court order requiring Geo Group to allow the New Jersey Department of Health to conduct comprehensive inspections throughout the detention center.
The legal action comes as detained immigrants at Delaney Hall continue a hunger and labor strike that began more than 10 days ago in protest against conditions inside the facility. Demonstrations outside the detention center have also continued in recent weeks, with some protests resulting in confrontations between law enforcement officers and demonstrators.
The lawsuit alleges that state health officials have been denied access to key areas of the facility. While Department of Health inspectors were permitted to conduct a limited inspection last week, they were reportedly prevented from entering the medical unit as well as sleeping, bathing, and restroom areas.
In a statement cited by The Guardian, Governor Mikie Sherrill questioned why inspectors were being denied full access if conditions at the facility were as safe and sanitary as claimed by Geo Group and federal authorities.
According to the attorney general’s office, requests for greater transparency regarding conditions at Delaney Hall had previously been made by the governor, elected officials, and protesters. The office said those requests were not fully accommodated by the facility’s operators.
The lawsuit names Geo Group, a Florida-based private corrections company that owns and operates Delaney Hall under contract with ICE. The plaintiff in the case is Raynard Washington, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health.
The court filing states that inspectors require access to detainee living areas to determine whether adequate measures are being taken to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. The lawsuit cites reports of Covid-19, influenza, and concerns regarding tuberculosis infection-control practices, as well as complaints about unsanitary bathroom conditions. The filing argues that health inspections are necessary to assess potential risks not only to detainees but also to the wider community’s health.
Meanwhile, criticism of state officials has continued from some immigration advocates and protesters. Demonstrators gathered outside Davenport’s office in Newark on Tuesday, arguing that the lawsuit does not go far enough to address concerns raised by detainees and activists. Advocates have continued to call for greater transparency at Delaney Hall and have reiterated demands made by hunger strikers, including requests for direct engagement with state officials.
The lawsuit marks the latest development in the ongoing controversy surrounding Delaney Hall, where concerns over detention conditions have prompted legal action, public protests, and increased scrutiny from elected officials.