New Jersey Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Delaney Hall Detention Center Operator

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport filed a lawsuit on June 2, 2026, against The GEO Group, Inc., the operator of the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark. The lawsuit follows claims from Governor Mikie Sherrill and state health officials that they were denied full access to the facility for inspection. Sherrill stated that the operators only allowed inspection of food service areas, which raised concerns about conditions within the center, particularly amid reports of detainees on hunger strike. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded to the lawsuit, labeling it as 'frivolous' and asserting that Delaney Hall complies with all state and local laws. The lawsuit highlights the inability of health officials to inspect critical areas of the facility, which the attorney general argues is necessary to assess health risks related to communicable diseases. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has also called for the closure of the facility due to complaints about its conditions. Protests outside the center have resulted in multiple arrests, with warnings from the White House against violent actions by demonstrators.