Four detainees at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, have reportedly gone missing, prompting an investigation by federal authorities. The detainees were unaccounted for as of Thursday night, leading officials to assess whether they had escaped or were still in the facility. The situation escalated following a lockdown and a protest concerning conditions at the detention center, which has been under scrutiny since earlier protests in May.
One detainee’s wife expressed concern for her husband’s safety, stating she received a call about the lockdown and protest. Local and state authorities are collaborating with ICE to locate the missing individuals, and law enforcement was seen canvassing the area.
The Delaney Hall facility has previously been the subject of controversy, notably when Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged with assault after visiting the center in May. She voiced concerns about the reportedly abusive conditions at Delaney Hall and indicated her office’s efforts to seek answers from ICE. During the same visit, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on charges of trespassing, which were later dropped. He has since filed a lawsuit against federal officials, claiming malicious prosecution after the incident.
Mayor Baraka expressed alarm over the recent developments, highlighting issues such as food withholding and the treatment of detainees, and stressed the need for better oversight of detention facilities. He called for increased monitoring to ensure constitutional rights are maintained, and criticized the operations of private prisons in New Jersey. The situation reflects ongoing tensions regarding immigration policies and the treatment of detainees in facilities across the United States.
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