Statement

Immigrant Detention Contradicts New Jersey Values and Erodes Public Trust

New detention center contract contradicts New Jersey’s values and threatens the well-being of thousands of residents who contribute to the state's economy, culture, and vitality.

By

Published on Feb 27, 2025 in Immigrants' Rights

Late yesterday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced plans for the imminent opening of Delaney Hall, a detention facility in Newark, NJ. The facility will have 1,000 beds and a 15-year contract with the private prison company GEO Group, which stands to gain about $1 billion from the contract. In response, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement:

Nicole Rodriguez, President, NJPP:

“New Jersey Policy Perspective is deeply alarmed by this announcement, just days after Governor Murphy reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the state’s immigrant communities in his budget address. This new contract contradicts New Jersey’s stated values and threatens the well-being of thousands of residents who contribute to the state’s economy, culture, and vitality.

“Decades of research have shown that detention centers — particularly those operated by private corporations — often harm individuals, separate families, and divert public resources toward an industry that profits from mass incarceration. Each new detention facility prolongs a system that has been repeatedly linked to inhumane conditions, a lack of due process, and barriers to legal representation. Further, increasing our reliance on detention undermines the trust that communities have in local government and law enforcement, discouraging immigrants from reporting crimes, seeking medical care, or engaging with public institutions.

“New Jersey should pursue evidence-based solutions that prioritize fairness, the rule of law, and community well-being and safety. This includes ensuring that local and state agencies do not participate in federal immigration enforcement efforts that undermine community trust and public safety while also expanding access to legal and social services that support immigrant families.

“It’s time to work toward ending the reliance on detention centers that have proven time and time again to be sites of abuse and neglect, ensuring that all residents, regardless of immigration status, can live with dignity and security.”

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Author

  • Nicole Rodriguez, President, is an experienced public policy leader who advocates for equitable solutions that center communities’ needs with racial, social, and economic justice.

    Before joining New Jersey Policy Perspective as Research Director, Nicole was senior researcher at Community Labor United (CLU) — an organization that brings community and labor partners together to speak in one voice on issues affecting working families throughout Greater Boston. Nicole drove strategic campaigns with rigorous research and leadership that stabilized and strengthened low-paid families and communities of color.

    Before that, Nicole worked as senior policy analyst for the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, an independent research organization that produces nonpartisan policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations to improve the lives of low- and middle-income residents and strengthen the state’s economy. Nicole wrote numerous reports focusing on family economic security and the state budget.
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