NEWARK, N.J. (Essex County) — The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has launched a civil rights investigation into practices at Delaney Hall, a private immigration detention facility in Newark, following reports of concerning conditions and recent deaths at the facility.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights has issued investigative subpoenas regarding Delaney Hall, which is owned and operated by The GEO Group Inc.
The investigation will examine whether actions or inaction by GEO Group employees violated the civil rights of people detained at the facility, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
“New Jersey has both a legal and a moral duty to stand up for the civil rights of people within our state,” said Attorney General Davenport. “For people who are held involuntarily, including by a private corporation like GEO Group, those rights include the right to humane treatment and adequate medical care. We will take every action available under law to safeguard these core legal principles. We ask individuals to share their personal experiences with us so that we can take action to ensure that rights are protected.”
“Ensuring that civil rights are upheld in all environments — particularly in settings where individuals may be vulnerable — is a fundamental responsibility,” said Yolanda N. Melville, Director of the Division on Civil Rights. “Our investigation will be thorough, impartial, and guided by the requirements and protections established by New Jersey law.”
The Attorney General’s Office said that if investigators find violations, it will pursue appropriate civil enforcement action under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
The investigation comes as separate litigation continues between the New Jersey Department of Health and GEO Group. The attorney general filed a lawsuit on behalf of the health department in June seeking a court order requiring GEO Group to provide state officials access to Delaney Hall for health inspections.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill expressed support for the civil rights investigation and reiterated her call for the facility to close.
“Today, the Attorney General announced a civil rights investigation into Delaney Hall, a private detention facility operated by The GEO Group. Since the facility is stonewalling efforts for real oversight, this is the right and necessary course of action.
“We’ve heard the reports of disturbing conditions and have been heartbroken by recent deaths of detainees at the facility. ICE and The GEO Group have continued to block our efforts for a full health inspection and there are now reports that visitations have been stopped. We will not tolerate a facility that abdicates any transparency and accountability. I have long opposed private detention facilities, and my position is clear that Delaney Hall should be closed. My administration will continue to do everything in our power to hold ICE and The GEO Group accountable to New Jersey laws.”
The Division on Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing several state civil rights laws, including the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and New Jersey Civil Rights Act. The latter protects individuals against the deprivation of rights and authorizes the attorney general and DCR director to investigate potential violations.
Anyone with information relevant to the Delaney Hall investigation may contact the Division on Civil Rights’ Affirmative Enforcement Unit at AffirmativeEnforcement@njcivilrights.gov.
Additional information about the Division on Civil Rights and filing a complaint is available at njcivilrights.gov.
