Discrepancies in Detention Data at Newark Facility

Federal authorities claim they are taking serious offenders off the streets. However, data obtained by The New York Times reveals a different reality at a Newark detention site.

Clashes have erupted at Delaney Hall, an immigration facility in New Jersey, involving law enforcement and protesters. These tensions have escalated over two weeks.

Recent reports highlighted a hunger strike by immigrants protesting the conditions at the center. In response, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill sought access to the facility for inspection. Her request faced rejection.

Federal officials asserted that agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are eliminating dangerous criminals, including murderers and rapists. They portrayed detainees as significant threats, referring to them as ‘the worst of the worst.’

Nevertheless, internal documents from the government, disclosed to The New York Times, provide a different perspective. The data shows that only a small segment of detainees at Newark’s Delaney Hall have criminal convictions.

ICE stopped releasing regular public updates regarding detainee numbers at its facilities in early April. According to the information acquired by The Times, of the 591 individuals held at Delaney Hall this week, 76, representing about 13%, had criminal convictions. Meanwhile, 123 individuals, or roughly 21%, had pending criminal charges.

The data indicates that detainees stayed at the facility for an average of 80 days.

The Department of Homeland Security, which manages ICE, stated that they are ‘working rapidly and overtime to remove these aliens from detention centers to their final destination — home.’