Blue city mayor under fire for trying to halt reopening of ICE facility
The City of Newark and its Democratic mayor, Ras Baraka, are embroiled in a legal battle with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the reopening of Delaney Hall, a building used to process illegal immigrants for deportation. The mayor filed a lawsuit in Essex County Superior Court, alleging that ICE has not followed proper building safety protocols and is in violation of state and local laws.
Mayor Baraka stated that construction work was being done in the building without the necessary permits, prompting the Department of Engineering to issue a stop work order. He also pointed out that ICE had failed to apply for construction permits, certificates of occupancy, and requests to change the building’s use. Delaney Hall, which has nearly 1,200 beds, is currently being operated by the contractor GEO Group.
The mayor emphasized that the agreement between ICE and GEO Group does not supersede the laws and ordinances of Newark and New Jersey. He reiterated that without compliance with the requirements, Delaney Hall cannot lawfully open. Baraka made it clear that the city will not tolerate federal attempts to ignore or evade their laws and statutes.
The GEO Group pushed back against the city’s actions, calling them political tactics that could jeopardize jobs and community safety. They accused local and state officials of interfering with the federal government’s efforts to arrest, detain, and deport criminal illegal aliens. The group highlighted that Delaney Hall had previously operated as a federal immigration processing center for six years under the Obama administration without opposition.
ICE did not provide a response to the situation at the time of publication. Mayor Baraka, who is also running for governor, has been critical of ICE raids in Newark, particularly emphasizing the importance of upholding the Constitution and ensuring that individuals’ rights are respected.
New Jersey’s stance on illegal immigrants has sparked pushback from Republicans, with state police being directed not to comply with warrants requested by the federal government for immigration enforcement purposes. Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli condemned the liberal Democrat policies in Trenton, stating that they are making communities less safe.
The ongoing legal battle between Newark and ICE underscores the complex and contentious issues surrounding immigration enforcement and the role of local and state governments in upholding laws and protecting their communities. The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for how immigration policies are implemented and enforced in the future.
