Protesters were escorted from the New Jersey State House complex in Trenton after demanding a meeting with Gov. Mikie Sherrill over conditions at Delaney Hall, the federal immigration detention facility in Newark.
The demonstration was part of a broader campaign urging Sherrill to press state health officials to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the detention center and meet directly with people being held there.
Organizers had scheduled a demonstration at the New Jersey State House Annex and called on the governor to enforce what they described as the state Health Department’s authority to investigate conditions inside Delaney Hall.
Protesters Demand Inspection of Delaney Hall
According to the event organizers, their demands include a full inspection of the facility’s infrastructure and sanitation procedures, a review of healthcare provided inside the center and direct meetings with detainees about living and working conditions.
The group also wants state officials to examine allegations involving medical care, assaults, compensation for work performed inside the facility and the overall health of detainees.
Demonstrators Seek Meeting With Sherrill
Video posted by the New Jersey Project showed protesters inside the State House area before they were escorted out.
The group said demonstrators had been demanding a meeting with Sherrill.
This is not the first time activists have gone to the State House over Delaney Hall. In June, protesters also gathered outside Sherrill’s office demanding that she meet with them and take further action regarding conditions at the Newark facility.
Delaney Hall Has Been the Focus of Months of Protest
Delaney Hall has been at the center of repeated demonstrations and political disputes over federal immigration detention in New Jersey.
Earlier protests outside the Newark facility led to confrontations between demonstrators and federal officers, including arrests and the use of pepper spray.
Sherrill has previously called for the facility to close and attempted to enter Delaney Hall earlier this year, but federal officials denied her access.
The latest demonstration shifts some of that pressure from Newark to Trenton, with activists now focusing directly on the governor and the state’s ability to inspect conditions inside the detention center.
Sources: On The Ground NJ / Action Network, New Jersey Project, Fox News Digital
By NJ RADAR Team
Editor’s Note: NJ Radar reports on these protests for informational purposes. The views and slogans shown or described do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication.