June 13, 2025
Four detainees at an ICE detention center in Newark, N.J., have escaped, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey, a Democrat, told reporters on Friday that the men escaped by knocking down a wall composed of drywall and mesh material. The escape occurred amid unrest among the detainees who weren’t receiving enough food and subjected to other poor conditions in the detention center, he said.
Kim, who visited the detention center Friday and got a briefing from officials, told reporters the facility is undergoing a major security review to find out if other walls could be breached.
Immigration attorney Mustafa Cetin said a client of his held at the facility called him Thursday evening and said detainees were knocking things down and blocking security cameras. Cetin said his client reported seeing some detainees knock down a wall and escape.
“Less than a month and a half since this facility opened, we now have learned that there are chronic food shortages, undrinkable water, crumbling mesh walls, and inadequate staffing that led to the chaos that devolved yesterday,” executive director Amy Torres said.
The Delaney Hall detention center has been the site of a standoff between GEO Group and city officials and pro-immigrant groups that oppose the operation of the jail. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat who is running for governor, was arrested at the facility in May after he attempted to inspect the facility at the invitation of members of congress.
Found on mainstream news.