The state of New Jersey and the city of Newark intensified their legal offensive this week against The GEO Group. This is the private company that operates the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center. Authorities are seeking to force health inspections and, ultimately, close the facility following multiple allegations of abuse, hunger strikes, and violent protests.
New Jersey’s Attorney General, Jennifer Davenport, filed a lawsuit seeking for the Superior Court to order The GEO Group to allow unrestricted access to state health inspectors. In fact, court documents point to serious allegations, including unsanitary food storage and possible deficiencies in infection control such as tuberculosis.
In parallel, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced the expansion of a lawsuit that the city has maintained against the company since last year. “This is a private facility, with private workers, and is subject to state and municipal laws. They cannot be protected by a contract they have with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),” Baraka stated.
Why Did Protests Erupt at Delaney Hall?
Complaints about Delaney Hall’s operations reached a critical point over the Memorial Day weekend in late May 2026. Moreover, according to reports from family members and legislators, approximately 300 detained immigrants launched a hunger strike and labor protest. They reported spoiled food, lack of medical care, and alleged threats.
These internal allegations triggered several days of demonstrations in front of the building located on Doremus Avenue, in Newark’s industrial zone. Some of these protests ended in violent confrontations with police and arrests. Consequently, this forced local authorities to establish a protest zone and a curfew.
Despite testimonies from activists and politicians who visited the site, the DHS and The GEO Group categorically denied that a hunger strike was taking place. In fact, the company called the allegations “unfounded accusations” and attributed them to a coordinated political effort by outside groups to dismantle ICE detentions.
What Is the History of the Legal Conflict Between Newark and the Company?
The clash between the city of Newark and The GEO Group is not new. In fact, the city has been engaged in legal litigation for more than a year to attempt to expel the company. They argue that it did not obtain the necessary building permits or occupancy certificate to reopen the facility last year with ICE as the new tenant.
At that time, The GEO Group defended itself by moving the case to a federal court. Furthermore, the company argued that it operated under a contract
