Story perspectives

ICE Arrests Protesters as Booker Labels Delaney Hall Moral Stain

5/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

ICE agents arrested six protesters and used pepper spray and batons outside Delaney Hall, citing obstruction.
Senator Cory Booker called Delaney Hall a moral stain after touring the facility and meeting detainees without charges.
Governor Mikie Sherrill and members of Congress were denied entry to Delaney Hall and demanded its shutdown.
The GEO Group, operator of Delaney Hall, faces a Newark lawsuit for running without permits, with mediation due June 15.

History

Historical Context

The 2000 award of a $150 million ICE contract for the 1,200-bed Otay Mesa detention center introduced private-operator involvement in immigration custody; Wikipedia notes the facility is now run by CoreCivic. Decades later, ICE agents face protests at New Jersey’s Delaney Hall, where Senator Cory Booker and Governor Mikie Sherrill demand its closure, echoing the earlier privatization debate.

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Story summary

ICE agents arrested six protesters and used pepper spray and batons outside Delaney Hall, citing obstruction.
Senator Cory Booker called Delaney Hall a moral stain after touring the facility and meeting detainees without charges.
Governor Mikie Sherrill and members of Congress were denied entry to Delaney Hall and demanded its shutdown.
The GEO Group, operator of Delaney Hall, faces a Newark lawsuit for running without permits, with mediation due June 15.

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