Private Companies looking to Open More New Jersey Detention Facilities
As private companies move to potentially expand immigrant detention capacity in New Jersey, the state could see new facilities opening up soon. Currently, the only detention center in Elizabeth, run by private company CoreCivic, holds 300 people. But with other companies eyeing the state for new locations, the capacity could see a significant increase.
The state is currently embroiled in a legal battle over a 2021 law that aimed to ban private immigrant detention centers in New Jersey. While the legal process plays out, private companies are seizing the opportunity to step in and fill the gap. Advocates like Gabriela Viera from Detention Watch Center are concerned that these facilities may end up targeting vulnerable populations in our communities.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency recently called for proposals for a 600-bed facility in New Jersey, highlighting the area’s importance due to its access to nearby airports. Documents revealed that a company called 375 Enterprise Ave LLC is looking to convert the Albert M. “Bo” Robinson Treatment Center in Trenton into a detention center pending approval from ICE.
The Geo Group, in an SEC filing after the election, suggested that they could secure a 15-year contract from ICE to use their empty Delaney Hall facility in Newark for detention purposes. While ICE neither confirmed nor denied these plans, they emphasized the need to continually reassess their detention requirements to house detainees effectively.
Advocates often reference a report from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, indicating that increased detention capacity leads to more apprehensions by ICE in surrounding communities. With a large undocumented immigrant population in New Jersey, advocates argue that more detention capacity could result in increased apprehensions by ICE.
Critics of privately run detention facilities, like Rev. J. Amos Caley from NJ Prison Justice Watch, are concerned that these facilities profit from the detainee population. With over 90% of detainees held in private facilities nationwide, there are ongoing concerns about neglect and mistreatment in these centers.
The Elizabeth Detention Center, operated by CoreCivic, has faced allegations of inhumane treatment in the past. However, CoreCivic maintains that they follow all guidelines and standards set by ICE. Despite criticisms, they point to regular oversight and accountability measures that ensure they operate within legal and ethical boundaries.
The legal battle over private detention centers in New Jersey continues, with CoreCivic currently allowed to operate under a ruling that found the state’s law unconstitutional. The state attorney general is appealing this decision, but in the meantime, they will not enforce the ban on private companies operating detention facilities.
As the debate over private immigrant detention centers unfolds in New Jersey, the implications for vulnerable populations and the broader immigrant community remain a key point of contention. The future of immigration detention in the state is uncertain as legal battles, advocacy efforts, and private interests clash in this complex landscape.
