Booker, Payne, Menendez Jr. Join Push Against Prison Company In NJ

NEWARK, NJ — A group of 10 federal lawmakers from New Jersey – including several with Newark ties – are among those pushing back against a controversial lawsuit involving one of the largest for-profit prison companies in the world: CoreCivic.

Two years ago, New Jersey passed a landmark law that bans prisons from making deals with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold federal detainees awaiting deportation. Prisons aren’t allowed to make new contracts with ICE or renew old agreements.

The law didn’t terminate existing agreements, however, including CoreCivic’s deal to run the Elizabeth Detention Center in Union County – the last remaining prison in New Jersey that holds an active contract with ICE.

The contract at the Elizabeth Detention Center was extended shortly before the law went into effect. It expires on Aug. 31.

Since then, CoreCivic has filed a federal lawsuit that alleges the law is unconstitutional. Read More: CoreCivic Sues New Jersey Over Ban On Prison Contracts

In July, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of support for the company’s lawsuit, claiming that the contract is “crucial” because of the prison’s close proximity to Newark and JFK airports – both of which host deportation flights out of the country. The ICE facility in Pennsylvania is a four-hour drive from Newark Airport, which would reportedly create 12-hour days for officers.

But according to a group of Congress members from New Jersey, the feds need to butt out of the debate.

On Friday, U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and nine other lawmakers sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling on the Department of Justice to rescind its support for CoreCivic.

The letter was signed by Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker (who lives in Newark), Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (NJ-10) and Robert Menendez Jr. (NJ-8), who both represent parts of Newark, and Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Andy Kim (NJ-03), and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11).

Read the full letter here.

The lawmakers said that New Jersey’s law is in line with Biden’s 2020 campaign pledge to end the federal government’s use of privately operated criminal detention facilities.

“We are troubled that the Department of Justice's intervention could undermine that effort by continuing to take part in this lawsuit,” they continued.

The Congress members pointed out that the Elizabeth Detention Center has been accused of being home to several health and safety violations over the years. Read More: Maggots, Squalor For ICE Detainees At 'Inhumane' NJ Jails

The lawmakers added:

“CoreCivic, in contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has held hundreds of immigrants in poor conditions at EDC despite sustained protests and legal battles calling for a range of interventions, including improved conditions, closure of the facility, and freedom for detainees. Based on reports from detained individuals and legal advocates, inhumane conditions at EDC include a lack of proper air quality, sanitation violations, overcrowding, inadequate medical and mental health care, and incidents of retaliation and abusive treatment by guards and staff. Despite extensive complaints, lawsuits, protests, and calls for action, ICE and CoreCivic are seeking to renew their contract for the sixth time and extend operations at the EDC after the expiration of their current contract on August 31, 2023.”

“We ask the Biden administration and the Department of Justice to respect the democratically passed and signed laws and side with constituents over private interests,” the congress members wrote.

• See Related: New Jersey Immigrant Groups Bash Biden's Budget Proposal
• See Related: NJ Activists Say Biden's Playbook On Immigration Is Similar To Trump's

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