In the last year, massive federal funding has poured into ICE and Border Patrol, giving them the resources to expand their detention and deportation operations for years to come. The administration is trying to use this money to do a massive expansion in detention facilities across the country. And it doesn’t end there. Republicans in Congress intend to jam through billions more in funding for Trump’s mass deportation machine later this year.
One example of this horrifying expansion is happening at Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, NJ where people are living in horrifying conditions: contaminated food, rancid water, no access to health care. Conditions have been so desperate that four people have broken through the walls to escape. In the first year since opening, Delaney Hall has also had a death under confusing circumstances. Things have now come to a disturbing head.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Members of Congress and local activists visited the facility, demanding the right to exercise their legal oversight authority to see what was happening inside the detention center. Instead of complying, ICE pepper-sprayed them and blocked them from accessing detainees. Andy Kim, a United States Senator, was pepper-sprayed by a federal agent for trying to do his job. Last year Rep. McIver, who represents the district where Delaney is, was criminalized for doing her job: exercising oversight authority. Now the escalations continue against first amendment protests outside, while reports of violence continue to emerge from within the facility. From coast to coast people are hunger striking against the horrific conditions in multiple detention centers.
Congress cannot look away. They must use every lever of power they have to demand dignity for immigrants and be in solidarity with the people in detention on hunger strike. This moment requires active escalation. Immediately:
- Members of Congress must gain access to people in detention at Delaney Hall
- All Members must use their platforms to draw attention to the inhumane conditions at detention centers across the country
- Not a single additional dime can move to the detention machine, ICE, or Border Patrol
Long term, we know Delaney Hall and all detention centers must be shut down, and the expansion of the detention machine in this country must be stopped, and all responsible for these conditions must be held to account.