New Jersey officials say health inspectors again denied full access to Delaney Hall detention center
NEWARK, N.J. (Essex County) — Gov. Mikie Sherrill, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and Health Commissioner Raynard E. Washington said state health inspectors were again denied full access to Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark operated by the GEO Group, during a scheduled inspection.
According to state officials, inspectors arrived Wednesday for a previously scheduled inspection but were permitted to view only limited areas of the facility rather than conduct a full health and safety inspection, including access to the medical unit.
The state said it was the second time inspectors were prevented from conducting a comprehensive inspection of the facility.
“Today, my health inspectors were once again denied full access to Delaney Hall, including the medical unit. This is unacceptable and continues to raise serious questions about what DHS and the GEO Group are hiding at Delaney Hall,” said Governor Sherrill. “I have long opposed private detention facilities and will continue doing everything I can to secure a full inspection and improve conditions for detainees and their families.”
State officials said Delaney Hall has been the subject of reports alleging unsanitary conditions, inadequate medical care and concerns about communicable diseases. They also cited a report received in late May involving a detainee who was taken to University Hospital with tuberculosis.
“Over the last few months, we’ve heard numerous troubling reports of unsanitary conditions, rotten food, substandard medical care, and even a reported case of tuberculosis at Delaney Hall. GEO Group’s refusal to allow health inspectors to conduct a full inspection of the facility raises a simple question: What are they trying to hide?” said Attorney General Davenport. “The people detained inside Delaney Hall must be treated with dignity. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that our health inspectors can conduct a complete inspection of Delaney Hall.”
Health Commissioner Washington said the department’s inspections are intended to protect public health.
“As I have said previously, health inspections are not political. If GEO Group has nothing to hide, they should allow full access to our team to conduct a complete health and safety inspection and not merely a tour of the facility,” said Health Commissioner Washington. “I continue to be worried about the spread of disease and other health risks inside and outside Delaney Hall. Unsanitary conditions impact detainees and facility staff alike, and communicable diseases are not confined by the walls, locks, or doors of any facility. They can spread to staff and visitors, who may then carry infections into the broader community. I am grateful to the Governor and the Attorney General for taking this seriously.”
On June 2, New Jersey filed a lawsuit alleging the GEO Group violated state law by refusing to allow the Department of Health to conduct a full inspection of Delaney Hall. State officials said inspectors were similarly denied access to key areas of the facility during a May 28 visit.
Under New Jersey law, the Department of Health says it has the authority to conduct full inspections of public and private detention facilities when there is reason to believe a public health violation may exist.
