NEWARK, NJ – Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey are upset about a plan to expand the state’s illegal alien detention facility in Newark. The facility, deemed necessary by the Department of Homeland Security during its nationwide sweep of criminal illegal aliens, is opposed by the party’s far-left contingent in New Jersey, which wants to keep the state’s sanctuary status.
A coalition of New Jersey lawmakers is opposing reported efforts to expand private immigration detention centers in the state, citing concerns about the potential impact on immigrant communities.
Representatives LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) have joined Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, as well as Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06), and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), in demanding that federal officials be transparent about these plans.
In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Caleb Vitello, lawmakers request information on reports that ICE is considering expanding the Elizabeth Detention Center and contracting for a new 600-bed facility in the Newark area.
The letter emphasizes their opposition to the use of private detention facilities and calls into question the need for increased state detention capacity.
“The potential openings of privately owned detention facilities in Newark and Trenton are deeply disturbing,” McIver, a legislator, said. “New Jersey is proud to be home to over two million immigrants [and hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens], and we are demanding answers about ICE actions in our community.
We will not sit idly by as Trump’s policies harass and harm our neighbors, and we will not stop holding ICE and the administration accountable.”
Congressman Menendez reaffirmed his opposition to private detention facilities, particularly the Elizabeth Detention Center, which has been the subject of controversy in recent years.
“We have consistently advocated for immigrants and the important role they play in our communities.” “That advocacy will continue in light of the renewed attacks on them,” he stated. “We have long stated that private detention centers, such as the one in Elizabeth, are contrary to the values of our district, and we will continue to work to prevent their expansion.
And, while we remain open to any opportunity to implement common-sense solutions to our broken immigration system, we will continue to conduct rigorous oversight of those aspects of the system that harm immigrant families.”
Watson Coleman focused on the broader implications of private immigration detention, claiming that for-profit detention facilities undermine public trust in the justice system.
“Instead of working with Democrats to build a fair and safe immigration process, the Trump administration has instead leaned into chaos, confusion, and cruelty,” according to her. “The use of private prisons erodes the public’s faith in the integrity of American sentencing policy, leaving them to wonder if the impetus for lengthy mandatory minimums, or forcibly detaining immigrants, is an evidence-based solution, or just submission to the will of private companies profiting from those incidences of imprisonment.”
In recent years, New Jersey has taken steps to phase out the use of private immigration detention facilities, including passing a state law that prohibits new ICE contracts with private operators. The lawmakers argue that any new expansion would go against the state’s commitment to more humane immigration policies.