Newark Issues 'Stop Work' Order On New ICE Detention Center

NEWARK, NJ — Newark has issued a “stop work” order on a controversial new federal immigration detention center, city officials announced Monday.

Last month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials confirmed plans to reopen Delaney Hall in Newark. The 1,000-bed facility will be the first federal detention center to open under President Donald Trump’s second term. Read More: ICE Detention Center In NJ Is First To Open Under Trump's New Term

The move will allow ICE to expand its detention capacity in the Northeast region of the country. It will also aid with deportations.

ICE officials said the agency has reached a 15-year, $1 billion deal with the facility’s owner, the GEO Group, one of the largest private prison companies in the nation. No specific date was released, but officials said the reopening is “imminent.”

However – according to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka – there’s a big hurdle standing in the way: city code regulations.

Baraka, who has been a vocal critic of the plan, said Monday that the city is filing a complaint with Essex County Superior Court because ICE has opened their Delaney Hall facility “without following proper building safety protocols.”

“They failed to give city officials access to conduct inspections required under municipal ordinances and state code,” the mayor alleged. “This violates city and state law.”

Baraka’s statement continued:

“The city was informed that construction work is taking place in the building without required permits. The Department of Engineering imposed a stop work order to halt any and all construction on the site today. Two ICE officials and the GEO Group facility director on site were made aware of the violations. In addition, ICE has failed to apply for construction permits, continued certificates of occupancy, and requests to change the building’s use. The agreement between ICE and the GEO Group to use Delaney Hall with the intention of incarcerating and holding immigrants slated for deportation does not supersede the ordinances and procedures legislated by the City of Newark and the state of New Jersey.”

“We will not tolerate federal attempts to ignore or evade our laws and statutes, which apply to everyone,” the mayor added.

It isn’t the first time that Baraka has raised a red flag about the plans for Delaney Hall. He issued a similar statement in reaction to ICE’s announcement in February, saying that the facility “cannot lawfully open in Newark” without satisfying city property-use requirements, inspections and permits.

Baraka isn’t alone in his opposition to the new facility. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Newark earlier this month to decry the plan. Read More: Protest Against Reopening ICE Detention Facility Draws Crowd In Newark

Other elected officials who have criticized the reopening of Delaney Hall include U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and three state lawmakers who represent Newark in the 29th district: Sen. Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywomen Eliana Pintor-Marin and Shanique Speight. See Related: ICE Facility In Newark Is ‘Not Welcome,’ Lawmakers Say

Newark isn’t the only U.S. city that has been seeing an arm wrestling match over plans to provide more prison space for ICE. A similar controversy is taking place in Leavenworth, Kansas, where CoreCivic is trying to reopen a shuttered jail facility as an immigrant detention center.

ICE IN NEWARK

Under a 2021 state law, all prisons in New Jersey – public or private – are banned from making new contracts with ICE to hold federal detainees. Prisons also can’t expand or renew old agreements.

But since then, the GEO Group and another private company, CoreCivic – which runs the Elizabeth Detention Center in Union County – have challenged the law in court. A judge ruled in 2023 that CoreCivic could keep its jail in Elizabeth open. Federal authorities and prison companies are now seeking to add more detention space in New Jersey, despite the state’s ban.

As part of his campaign platform, the president vowed to immediately launch a nationwide immigration crackdown, including in sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal agencies. Several municipalities in New Jersey have declared “sanctuary” status, including the state’s largest city, Newark.

Trump’s administration didn’t waste any time making its first moves. On his first day in office, the White House announced a sweeping wave of presidential actions and executive orders, including several involving immigration.

“Over the last four years, the United States has endured a large-scale invasion at an unprecedented level,” the Trump administration said. “Millions of illegal aliens from nations and regions all around the world successfully entered the United States where they are now residing.”

“This cannot stand,” the president continued.

In January, ICE agents made national headlines when they raided a local seafood distributor in Newark, igniting a firestorm of controversy that has many community members speaking out in fear and anger – and others applauding for Trump.

Baraka said that three undocumented residents were detained, along with multiple U.S. citizens – including a military veteran. The raid – which was done in a section of the city with a dense population of immigrants – took place without a warrant, he said.

The family member of an undocumented immigrant arrested in last week’s ICE raid in Newark later claimed that he doesn’t have a criminal record – despite how the Trump Administration has been trying to frame the crackdown. Read More: Man Arrested In Newark ICE Raid Isn’t A Criminal, Cousin Says

“My primo is the sweetest, kindest, most hardworking person you’ll ever meet,” she said, adding that he “pays all his bills on time, has never gotten into any trouble and is the type of person to do just about everything right.”

Other recent arrests in Newark have included the owner of a Somerset County restaurant, who was apprehended in the city and potentially faces deportation. Read More: ICE Arrests NJ Restaurant Owner In Newark, Reports Say

Meanwhile, ICE has announced other high-profile arrests that took place in Newark, including the arrest of two people connected to sex crimes.

• See Related: ICE Arrests Sex Offender In Newark, Controversy Continues To Rage
• See Related: ICE Arrests Accused Child Rapist At Newark Airport

Although the focus on federal immigration enforcement has ramped up since Trump took office, ICE raids also took place in New Jersey during former president Joe Biden’s watch.

A major immigration sweep took place in North Jersey the week before Trump’s inauguration, with ICE’s Newark field office arresting 33 non-citizens who have committed or been accused of crimes. The federal agency said it targeted “noncitizens” who had felonies or misdemeanors for domestic violence, sexual abuse or exploitation, burglary, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking, and driving under the influence. Read More: Newark ICE Office Makes 33 Arrests, Deportations Loom

The Newark field office is located at 970 Broad Street, and processes federal detainees from across the state. Prior to New Jersey’s ban on ICE contracts took effect, hundreds of people were being arrested and deported from the Newark office every month. Read More: ICE In NJ Deported 500 People From Country In 3 Months, Feds Say

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