Pallone Demands Immediate Action After New York Times Investigation Confirms Horrid Conditions at New Jersey’s Delaney Hall ICE Facility

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today demanded immediate action from Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after a New York Times investigation documented unsafe food handling, sanitation failures, and other troubling conditions inside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark.

“As Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, you have the authority and responsibility to address the serious deficiencies at Delaney Hall. If Delaney Hall cannot be operated in compliance with federal law and the Constitution, GEO Group should not continue to profit from taxpayer dollars and Delaney Hall should be closed. I expect you to take immediate action and your prompt response, no later than Friday, July 17. I and my fellow Members of Congress remain prepared to exercise our oversight authority to ensure that detainees are treated humanely and federal law is faithfully executed,” Pallone wrote. 

Today’s New York Times investigation – based on federal inspection reports, New Jersey health inspection records, court filings, and other public documents – reinforces months of warnings from Members of Congress, including Pallone, about conditions inside the detention center run by GEO Group.

In his letter, Pallone demanded immediate corrective action and a response from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin before next Friday, July 17.

His full letter can be found here and below:

The Honorable Markwayne Mullin

Secretary

Department of Homeland Security

2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20528

Sec. Mullin:

I write with outrage at recent reporting from the New York Times^[1] confirming what detainees, families, immigration advocates, and Members of Congress and concerned citizens have been saying for over a year - the situation at Delaney Hall is inhumane and untenable.

Since last year, I have made numerous visits to Delaney Hall and seen these poor conditions myself. Detainees have repeatedly told me and other Members of Congress about the cruel conditions, inedible food, and a lack of access to medical care. I joined my colleagues in multiple letters to you detailing these serious concerns and urging you to hold the facility’s contractor, GEO Group, accountable^[2].

We urged your Department to take steps to immediately close Delaney Hall and make corrective actions before these conditions deteriorated further, instead, you repeatedly say conditions are adequate.^[3].  Rather than holding GEO Group accountable for their misuse of federal dollars, you’ve elevated David Venturella, a former GEO Group executive, to be the Acting Director of ICE^[4]. Your department has also made it more difficult for members of Congress to conduct oversight at federal immigration facilities.

The concerns raised by detainees, advocates, families, and Members of Congress have now been reinforced by independent reporting and public records. The question is no longer whether these problems exist, but what immediate actions you will take to correct them and hold those responsible accountable. Accordingly, I urge that you immediately:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of conditions at Delaney Hall and publicly release a corrective action plan.
• Require GEO Group to immediately remedy all identified deficiencies or begin the process of terminating its operation of the facility if it cannot operate humanely. 
• Restore meaningful congressional oversight by rescinding policies that impede Members of Congress from conducting unannounced inspections of immigration detention facilities.
• Ensure detainees have timely access to adequate medical care, legal counsel, family visitation, and other protections guaranteed under law.
• Suspend any retaliatory actions against detainees who report unsafe conditions or exercise protected rights.
  
   
  As Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, you have the authority and responsibility to address the serious deficiencies at Delaney Hall. If Delaney Hall cannot be operated in compliance with federal law and the Constitution, GEO Group should not continue to profit from taxpayer dollars and Delaney Hall should be closed. I expect your prompt response no later than Friday, July 17th. I and my fellow Members of Congress remain prepared to exercise our oversight authority to ensure that detainees are treated humanely and federal law is faithfully executed. 
  
   
   
  
   
  Sincerely,
  
   
   

^[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/nyregion/delaney-hall-ice-conditions-unsanitary.html

^[2] https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-leads-nj-democratic-members-in-demanding-answers-and-accountability-for-inhumane-conditions-and-systemic-medical-neglect-at-delaney-hall

^[3] https://newjerseyglobe.com/immigration/markwayne-mullin-says-n-j-pols-seeking-fundraising-clicks-denies-hunger-strike-at-delaney-hall/

^[4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/05/13/dhs-picks-detention-industry-veteran-david-venturella-lead-ice/