Congressional Democrats conduct oversight visit at Delaney Hall following hearing
Members of Congress noted that over the past several weeks, they have conducted more than a dozen oversight tours at Delaney Hall and have consistently been allowed to speak directly with detainees.
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Several of New Jersey’s Congressional delegates said they were unable to meet with or speak to any detainees after a congressional oversight visit to Newark’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility on Wednesday.
Members of Congress noted that over the past several weeks, they have conducted more than a dozen oversight tours at Delaney Hall and have consistently been allowed to speak directly with detainees.
This time, however, they said they were told they would need prior written approval from detainees and must provide at least 24 hours’ notice before any interaction.
The visit comes after weeks of protests outside the facility, where advocates and detainees have raised concerns about what they describe as inhumane conditions.
Rep. LaMonica McIver also questioned recent changes in the detainee population, saying more than 30 people had been transferred to the facility overnight, while overall numbers had dropped by more than 200.
She suggested that the transfers may have been retaliatory and said lawmakers would continue to push back against those actions.
The Department of Homeland Security has maintained that conditions inside Delaney Hall meet appropriate standards and that detainees are being treated humanely.
