NJ Governor Mikie Sherrill claims 'unsafe' conditions as ICE denies entry to detention facility

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill levelled serious allegations against the Trump administration on Monday, as she claimed "unsafe and unconstitutional conditions" inside the Delaney Hall detention centre. Taking to X, Sherrill claimed that she had gone to visit the detention centre after examining reports of the same and was denied access. She also said that she would keep fighting to hold the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accountable. "The people being held there are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters who deserve to be treated with dignity," she wrote.

"My request to access the facility was denied this morning, raising even more questions about what they are trying to hide from public view. I'll keep fighting for answers and to hold ICE accountable," the post added. According to a CNN report, questions have been raised about the conditions of detainees inside the facility, leading to protestors gathering to demonstrate in recent days.

The report also states that thousands of detainees went on hunger and labour strikes after Martin Alonso Soto Hernandez, a detainee whose wife is pregnant, was scheduled to be moved from the facility. Demonstrators blocked unmarked government vehicles and confronted armed ICE agents, leading to a chaotic situation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has claimed that elected officials were "spreading smears about ICE law enforcement."

Several elected officials have raised their voices against the treatment of detainees in Delany Hill, with Senator Andy Kim being one of the more proactive ones. He was at the facility protesting when demonstrators tussled with ICE. It led to the New Jersey Senator being pepper-sprayed, as he claimed that he had attempted to play peacemaker between the agents and the demonstrators. However, in a recent post on X, he sternly criticized the detention facility.

He claimed that detainees had to put up with "the lack of due process, the disgusting food, and poor treatment." He also accused ICE of sending armed agents and vehicles to disperse protestors instead of having a dialogue with him. "Civilians were tackled and restrained, and agents fired pepper balls and spray into the crowd. This is more of the same lawlessness we've seen elsewhere around the country," Kim added.

Members of the Trump administration have lashed out at the demonstrators and have even denied striking individuals with pepper ball projectiles. "The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly, not rioting. DHS is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters," an X post by the DHS read. Secretary Markwayne Mullin called it a "political stunt by New Jersey sanctuary politicians for fundraising clicks."

Mullin claimed that there was no hunger strike at the facility and that detainees were not kept in "subprime conditions." As per a DHS spokesperson, all detainees were provided with "3 meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, and toiletries." However, as per Selenia Destefani, a managing attorney and CEO of Nova Law Group, which represents people in the facility, "People just sleep on the floor – overcrowded rooms, cold showers, no food, extremely cold in the cells with no blankets. Not sound conditions to live in."