United States.- Congressmembers denounce conditions at Delaney Hall, an immigrant detention center located in New Jersey, after conducting an inspection in which they received testimonies regarding issues related to food, medical care, and the functioning of the air conditioning.
The chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Adriano Espaillat, visited the facilities this Wednesday accompanied by Democratic congresspeople Analilia Mejia and Rob Menéndez.
During the tour, the legislators spoke with people held at the center and subsequently noted that situations persist which, according to their assessment, affect immigrants in federal custody.
Delaney Hall is operated by the GEO Group and has been the subject of complaints regarding the conditions in which detainees are held. Allegations include allegedly spoiled food, issues with the air conditioning system, and difficulties in receiving timely medical services.
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Lawmakers question care for detainees
After concluding the visit, Espaillat, Mejia, and Menéndez held U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and The GEO Group responsible for ensuring the conditions of the individuals remaining in custody.
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The congressmen reported that some detainees stated they had faced delays or difficulties in obtaining medical attention when they were ill or experiencing pain.
They also received complaints regarding the delivery of food considered inadequate and deficiencies in the air conditioning of certain areas of the facilities.
Based on the testimonies received and what was observed during the tour, the legislators described the situation as a failure in the care and supervision of a center that operates with federal resources.
Delaney Hall has a capacity of 1,196 people
Congressmembers denounce conditions at Delaney Hall months after Espaillat and other representatives conducted a visit to the same facility in May.
Delaney Hall is noted as the immigrant detention center with the largest capacity on the East Coast of the United States, with space to house 1,196 people.
The inspection carried out in May occurred after clashes between activists and ICE agents in the vicinity of the facility. By then, a group of immigrants was on a hunger strike to demand changes to the conditions at the site.
The protest had begun in mid-May and concluded on June 22.
Among the demands raised by the participants were improvements in food and medical services, access to drinking water, the cessation of alleged mistreatment, and the release of sick individuals and minors.
Activists later denounced that the strike did not end as a result of improvements to the facilities, but rather due to disciplinary measures and acts of intimidation that they attributed to the security staff.
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They will demand explanations from federal authorities
The legislators announced that they will continue to gather information on the operation of Delaney Hall and will request explanations regarding the complaints received.
They also indicated that they will seek answers regarding the deaths of people detained in those facilities and the actions taken by the Department of Homeland Security to address the reported situations.
Espaillat, Mejia, and Menéndez indicated that they will review the data obtained during the inspection and did not rule out returning to the center if they deem it necessary to carry out further verifications.
Likewise, they plan to request information from both federal government officials and those responsible for operating the facilities to determine what measures have been taken in response to the complaints.
