Listen: NJ Mayor Announces Policing ‘Reset’ at Delaney Hall Detention Center
Mayor Baraka was arrested outside Delaney Hall last year, but was later let go after several hundred residents showed up demanding his release.
By Bob Hennelly
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has announced a reset for the policing around Delaney Hall, the controversial private immigration prison operated by the GEO Group, a major donor to President Trump.
Baraka said he wanted to “de-conflict” the scene so that public focus would shift back to the ICE detainees who are being held in what they say are inhumane conditions and in violation of the US Constitution as well as specific court orders in their individual cases.
Over the weekend, Gov. Sherrill deployed the New Jersey State Police in the aftermath of violent clashes between anti-ICE protestors and masked ICE agents.
Activists and elected officials, including Baraka, spoke out against the establishment of so-called “free speech zone” as defined by the NJSP.
Baraka told reporters he supported Gov. Sherrill taking action in the face of ICE Czar Tom Homan’s threat to deploy 30 ICE units but noted that he saw the NJSP tactics with mounted officers as “being like a sword” which when utilized is likely to “cut” someone.
He asserted that the NJ State Police tactics were like that of ICE agents which only caused an escalation in unrest at the site.
Baraka referenced his May 9, 2025 arrest at Delaney Hall on a public sidewalk as an example of ICE’s predilection for violent escalation.
Charges against Baraka were ultimately dropped, but charges were brought against Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., who along with Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., and Rep. Robert Menendez Jr., D-N.J., tried to shield Baraka from the federal agents. McIver faces 17 years in jail if convicted on the charges.
Baraka noted his police department had just completed a multi-year consent decree that included “free speech training” that would ensure protestors would not be targeted for physical attack or arrest for anything they said.
The City of Newark will also be going back to court to expand their litigation against the GEO Group which city officials say is operating illegally without basic permits required for a 1,000 bed congregant care facility.
Last December, a 41 year old man died on the first day of his incarceration.
So far this year, 18 detainees have died in ICE or private custody across the country. Last year, 32 people died in ICE custody, the most since 2004. Others have been shot or killed and died in the process of fleeing DHS agents.
Early in the week several protestors were arrested with several injuries reported. Last night, there were no arrests with the Newark police setting a less confrontational tone.
Baraka said he hoped to end the 9 pm curfew in the industrial Ironbound neighborhood that includes the Essex County Correctional facility.
On the Friday of the Memorial Day weekend, 300 detainees launched a hunger and labor strike. Inmates get $1 a day to help maintain GEO’s facility.
GEO has a billion dollar contract with the Trump administration. It’s CEO George Zoley is paid over $11 million a year in compensation.
Faith and social justice activists, who have been at Delaney since it opened last winter, were hoping to re-establish their support system for the detainees and their families.
Listen to the entire Delaney Hall discussion below: