The mayor of Newark is doubling down on his efforts to shut down Delaney Hall, the New Jersey immigration detention facility that has been at the center of protests for nearly two weeks, drawing demonstrators over allegations of poor conditions at the facility and counterprotesters voicing support for ICE.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Mayor Ras Baraka announced Tuesday that the city will continue focusing its efforts on going after GEO Group, the major private prison company that operates the facility, instead of federal immigration agencies.“This is not a federal facility, these are not federal grounds; it’s a private facility, private workers, and they are subject to state and municipal laws,” Baraka said in a news conference outside Delaney Hall Tuesday morning.The city of Newark has been in a yearlong legal battle to get GEO Group out of Delaney Hall, alleging it did not obtain proper permits to reopen the previously shuttered facility last year.In court records, the company said it has a valid contract with ICE to operate the facility.Detainees stand by a window inside Delaney Hall on May 26.Adam Gray / Getty ImagesThe mayor announced the city is planning to expand its existing lawsuit against GEO Group to include health and human safety violations at Delaney Hall as grounds to close the facility.New Jersey state officials are also adding pressure against the company.
Following Baraka’s news conference, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport filed another lawsuit against GEO Group, alleging the company is refusing to allow state health inspectors inside Delaney Hall to verify reports of unsanitary and unsafe conditions at the facility.“The reports of unsanitary and unsafe conditions inside Delaney Hall are extremely concerning, and GEO Group — like any other business and facility in New Jersey — must follow the law,” Davenport said in a statement.Protesters shout at Newark p...