ICE faces scrutiny over conditions at New Jersey detention center
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On what planet do ICE agents tear gas a US senator?
I think it would be this planet.
Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, was trying to play a mediating role between protesters and a hunger strike at Delaney Hall, the ICE detention center in Newark.
Kim was allowed in only after calling Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, a former Senate colleague.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark. (Sen. Andy Kim; X)
Here’s what Kim said on Facebook:
“18-year-old high school student crying and saying he just wants to graduate as a senior.”
“A woman who had a miscarriage and was left to figure things out on her own.”
“My mother is not allowed to spend more than a few minutes with her 4-month-old baby.”
He continued in this vein.
“Our government should focus on helping Americans live their lives, rather than locking people up in for-profit detention centers,” he said.
According to NJ.com, the senator stood outside between ICE agents and demonstrators with his arms raised. Agents still fired chemical irritants, hitting Kim and many others in the crowd. Medics were later photographed washing Kim’s eyes.
New Jersey’s new governor, Democrat Mikie Sherrill, showed up and was denied entry to the detention center.
“What I heard from them was heartbreaking,” Sherill said, referring to family members and lawyers.
So what are these people trying to hide? Are you turning down the governor of the state?
Sherill said he has heard from relatives of detainees complaining about spoiled food and lack of medical care.
RELATED: MARKWAYNE MULLIN PLAYS ‘POLITICAL DEMONSTRATION’ AT ICE FACILITY ON DEMS’ ‘TRASH’ REMEMBER DAY
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and Senator Andy Kim, D-N.J., stand outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey, during a protest 5/25/26. (Governor Mikie Sherrill)
Mullin accused Sherill, Cory Booker and other Jersey Democrats of “defaming ICE law enforcement” and said there were no hunger strikes or substandard conditions at headquarters. “They should thank our law enforcement for removing these murderers, pedophiles, rapists and drug traffickers from their state.”
Following the tragic fatal shootings of two American citizens, ICE was out of the news for a while. That was the goal for Mullin, who said she would keep a low profile, unlike her fired predecessor, Kristi Noem.
He also adopted some reforms, such as requiring agents to obtain a search warrant before entering a home; This would have prevented many embarrassing incidents involving wrong addresses and mistaken identities.
As Mullin said at his confirmation hearing in March, “My goal in six months is to not be in the main story every day.” The White House wants to downplay the volatile issue heading into the midterm elections.
A major problem was the inadequately trained agents who were allowed to join the force through an abbreviated 47-day training program. Mullin brought back the standard 72-day curriculum.
Look, most ICE agents are trying to do a dangerous job under difficult conditions. Hundreds of people have been charged with assaulting or obstructing a federal officer.
Making matters worse are allegations that some ICE agents did not receive their full salaries or the promised $50,000 sign-on bonus.
I’m not big on for-profit detention centers, but what choice do they have? There aren’t enough prison cells to house all these detainees. Delaney Hall, for example, has about 1,000 of them.
An ICE agent uses a paintball gun from the top of an armored vehicle amid ongoing protests at New Jersey’s Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey. 5/26/26. (WNYW)
One lawyer said that in a single day, 74 cases were assigned to a single judge.
But substandard care is unacceptable. We often hear the phrase “No one is above the law.”
If ICE is proud of these facilities, why are they preventing people like the governor from getting in? We’re talking about inspections of Iran’s nuclear development – why isn’t Delaney Hall open to top elected officials to see how taxpayer dollars are being spent internally? Federal and state prisons are inspected at all times.
This should be a must for anyone running these places. And obviously there are a lot of things they want to keep secret.
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