4 Escape New Jersey Immigration Detention Center: DHS
Four Detainees Escape ICE Facility in Newark Amid Chaos and Protests
Four detainees escaped from the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, after breaking through a wall during a period of unrest inside the facility, according to U.S. Senator Andy Kim and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Speaking at a press briefing outside the center on Friday, Senator Kim said the detainees breached an internal wall that led to an exterior barrier, ultimately making their way into a parking lot and fleeing. Their identities have not been disclosed, and the search is ongoing.
DHS confirmed that multiple law enforcement agencies have been deployed to locate the escapees, though it did not specify which ones.
The escape follows reports of significant unrest at Delaney Hall Thursday night, where tensions flared inside and outside the facility.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka cited reports of a possible “uprising” and noted that chaos broke out after detainees reportedly received meals hours late.
Protesters gathered outside the facility, locking arms and pushing against barricades as vehicles moved through the gates.
Some demonstrators were pepper-sprayed and dragged away by officers, according to witnesses. No major injuries were reported.
The incident unfolded at a facility that houses up to 1,000 detainees under a 15-year, $1 billion contract awarded during the Trump administration as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
Activists and legal advocates have long criticized the conditions inside Delaney Hall, with new allegations emerging that detainees were being provided inadequate food and possibly contaminated water.
According to attorney Mustafa Cetin, whose client has been detained at Delaney Hall for two weeks, the situation escalated when dinner was significantly delayed Thursday.
Some detainees allegedly blocked security cameras and breached a housing unit by punching through a weak interior wall.
Senator Kim also mentioned hearing complaints about food quality and water odor from within the facility.
He said detainee relocations are expected soon and that he’s seeking official confirmation from ICE and DHS.
Meanwhile, immigration attorneys have reported being unable to contact or visit clients held at Delaney Hall, raising concerns about transparency and detainee rights.
Araceti Argueta of the American Friends Service Committee confirmed that legal visits were suspended on Friday.
Mayor Baraka, who has consistently criticized federal immigration enforcement actions in Newark, called for an immediate investigation into the incident and broader oversight of the facility. “We cannot allow this operation to continue unchecked,” he said.
In a separate statement, the American Friends Service Committee revealed that detainees are allegedly served breakfast as early as 6 a.m., dinner as late as 10 p.m., and are given no lunch. Meals are said to be insufficient in quantity.
GEO Group, the private company operating the facility, directed all inquiries to ICE.
ICE has not released an official statement detailing how the detainees escaped or addressing the allegations of mistreatment.
Newark is one of several New Jersey cities currently embroiled in legal battles over sanctuary city policies, which limit cooperation with ICE on civil immigration matters.
ICE is currently detaining more than 53,000 individuals nationwide—far exceeding its allocated budget for 41,000 detainees.
The pressure to increase arrests has intensified, with Trump administration officials pushing for a daily target of 3,000 arrests, a dramatic leap from the current average of 656 per day.
Delaney Hall has also been the site of high-profile confrontations between federal authorities and Democratic lawmakers.
In May, Mayor Baraka was arrested for trespassing at the facility, though the charge was later dropped.
Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver was also charged with assaulting federal officers during a separate clash, a charge she denies, stating she was lawfully performing oversight duties.
Local and state officials have yet to confirm whether they will support federal efforts to locate the escaped detainees.
4 Escape New Jersey Immigration Detention Center: DHS