TRUMP’S FIRST ICE DETENTION FACILITY FINDS ITS HOME IN NEWARK, VALUED AT $1 BILLION

Delaney Hall’s opening is “imminent”, providing 1,000 beds for immigration detention

NEWARK, NJ [02.27.25] - Late yesterday, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a statement announcing the “imminent” opening of Delaney Hall in Newark, NJ.

"This detention center is the first to open under the new administration," said acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello. "The location near an international airport streamlines logistics, and helps facilitate the timely processing of individuals in our custody as we pursue President Trump’s mandate to arrest, detain and remove illegal aliens from our communities.”

GEO Group also holds the contract for ICE Air which operates out of Newark Liberty International Airport to transfer people in detention domestically or to deport them internationally. 

Last December, news broke that multiple sites were under consideration for ICE contracts. On their quarterly earnings call this morning, GEO Group said, 

“GEO’s support services include exclusive use of the facility by ICE along with security, maintenance, food services, access to recreational areas, medical care, and legal counsel. We estimate the value of the facility to be $60 million dollars in the first year of operations. We estimate the 15 year value of the contract, with cost of living adjustments to be $1 billion dollars.”

In projecting additional growth, GEO Group said, 

“Before the passage of the Laken Riley Act, the Trump Administration estimated that 100,000 beds would be needed for their planned increased interior enforcement. Based on implementation of the Laken Riley Act, it could require an additional 60,000 or more.”

The news is a significant setback for New Jersey. While the state’s federal representatives have regularly spoken out against ICE detention expansion, the state legislature has failed to advance legislation, like bill S3672/A4987, that protects immigrants from ICE data requests and overreach. ICE’s own statement makes its intent clear: the facility will not only target New Jersey’s own diverse communities, its proximity to the international airport will make it a regional hub for enforcement across the Northeast. 

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New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ) is the state’s largest immigration coalition. NJAIJ uses the power and strength of 60+ member organizations to fight for policies that empower and protect immigrants.