Neighbor News
ICC CEO Hazel Applewhite Speaks Out at FUERA ICE Press Conference
Community Leaders Unite to Oppose Reopening of Delaney Hall ICE Detention Center in Newark
Newark, NJ – March 11, 2025 – Today, a coalition of over 30 faith-based organizations, labor unions, and immigrant rights groups gathered to protest the imminent reopening of Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Newark. The demonstration, held outside the facility at 451 Doremus Avenue, drew several hundred participants advocating for immigrant rights and opposing the expansion of detention centers in the region.
Delaney Hall, which previously housed immigrants from 2011 to 2017, is set to become the first federal detention center to open under President Trump's second term. The facility's reopening has sparked significant concern among community leaders and residents, who fear an increase in unjust arrests and family separations.
Hazel Applewhite, CEO of the Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC), addressed the crowd, stating, "We should be focused on building schools and education, not detention centers separating families."
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Chloe Desire, a prominent Environmental Justice Policy Analyst at ICC also condemned the reopening of Delaney Hall, highlighting the broader pattern of environmental injustice and systemic racism in Newark. She specifically called out the proposed construction of a fourth fossil fuel power plant in the city, emphasizing the disproportionate burden these projects place on Newark’s communities.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has opposed the facility's reopening, asserting that ICE cannot lawfully operate without satisfying city property-use requirements, inspections, and permits. Mayor Baraka stated that an immigration detention center is "not welcomed here."
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The coalition urges federal and local authorities to reconsider the decision to reopen Delaney Hall and to focus on policies that promote inclusivity, protect human rights, and keep families together.
About Ironbound Community Corporation
Founded in 1969, Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and communities to achieve their aspirations and work collectively toward a just, vibrant, and sustainable future. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer, Hazel Applewhite, ICC offers a range of services, including Family Services, Child and Youth Development Programs, Food Pantry Services, Mental Health Services, Abuse Counseling, Adult Education, and Job and Financial Counseling. All contributions to ICC are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. For more information or to contribute, please visit ironboundcc.org.
Crystal "Cali" Woods
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Contact:
Martin Torres
Phone: (973) 465-0555 Ext 228
Email: mtorres@ironboundcc.org
Website: www.ironboundcc.org
