Newark’s ICE detention center is now at 20% capacity after inmates described as “hardened criminals” escaped during an “uprising,” exposing severe security failures in a facility costing taxpayers $1 billion over 15 years.
Key Takeaways
- Three of four escaped illegal immigrant detainees, classified as “public safety threats” by DHS, have been recaptured after breaking through walls at Newark’s Delaney Hall ICE facility.
- Colombian national Andres Felipe Pineda-Mogollon remains at large with a $25,000 reward offered for information leading to his capture.
- The escape occurred during what officials described as an “uprising” over food issues, highlighting critical security and staffing failures at the facility.
- Following the incident, the detention center has been reduced to 20% capacity, with hundreds of detainees transferred to facilities in Texas and Pennsylvania.
- GEO Group’s 15-year, $1 billion contract to operate the facility is under scrutiny amid ongoing protests and a lawsuit from Newark officials.
Security Collapse Leads to Dangerous Escape
The chaos at Newark’s Delaney Hall Detention Center reached a boiling point when four illegal immigrant detainees, described by the Department of Homeland Security as “public safety threats,” managed to escape the facility during what officials termed an “uprising.” The incident began when detainees became agitated over delayed meals, eventually pushing down a dormitory wall. Three escapees have since been recaptured, but Colombian national Andres Felipe Pineda-Mogollon remains at large, with authorities offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
“It’s about the food, and some of the detainees were getting aggressive, and it turned violent,” said Mustafa Cetin.
Senator Andy Kim reported that the detainees managed to break through both interior and exterior walls to reach a parking lot, contradicting early DHS accounts that minimized the severity of the breach. This discrepancy in official statements has only intensified scrutiny over the facility’s security protocols and management. The escape has exposed alarming vulnerabilities in what should be a high-security installation, raising concerns about public safety in the Newark area and beyond.
Massive Detainee Transfer and Facility Downgrade
In a drastic response to the security failure, ICE has transferred hundreds of detainees out of the Newark facility, which previously operated as the largest detention center of its kind on the East Coast. The population has plummeted from approximately 1,000 detainees to just 200, reducing the center to 20% of its operational capacity. According to inside sources, the transferred detainees include violent criminals who have been relocated to facilities in Texas and Pennsylvania while authorities address the systematic failures at Delaney Hall.
“GEO Group needs to properly ‘ensure security and staffing’ and put in place ‘proper procedures’ before it can ‘repopulate’ the massive center, said a source.
The facility is now under strict lockdown with all visitations suspended indefinitely. Family members of detainees have reported receiving little to no information about their relatives’ conditions or whereabouts following the transfers. This information blackout has added another layer of controversy to a situation already mired in accusations of mismanagement and neglect. The hasty evacuation underscores just how serious the security lapses were and the imminent danger they posed to the surrounding community.
Billion-Dollar Contract Under Fire
At the center of this fiasco is GEO Group, the private contractor holding a 15-year, $1 billion contract with ICE to operate Delaney Hall. The company has faced mounting criticism for inadequate security measures, insufficient staffing, and poor conditions inside the facility. Despite these failures, taxpayers remain on the hook for the massive contract while the facility operates at a fraction of its capacity. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has been a vocal critic, highlighting an ongoing lawsuit against GEO Group for allegedly operating without proper city permits.
“It’s one chaotic moment after the next,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
Inside sources have revealed that detainees complained about inadequate food portions and disrupted meal services in the days leading up to the escape. When confronted with these allegations, DHS issued a statement claiming the facility “remains dedicated to providing high-quality services,” including medical care, visitation rights, and dietician-approved meals. This response rings hollow given the circumstances that led to the uprising and subsequent escape, highlighting a disconnect between official statements and the reality inside the facility.
Protests and Political Fallout
The escape and subsequent facility downgrade have occurred against a backdrop of ongoing protests against the detention center. Critics argue these demonstrations have compromised security by diverting resources and attention. Meanwhile, supporters of the protests point to the escape as evidence of the facility’s inherent problems and the need for greater oversight of immigration detention practices. The situation exemplifies the failures of sanctuary city policies like those in Newark, where law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities is often limited.
“The detention center had ‘a large amount’ of violent illegal migrant criminals because ‘Newark is a cesspool of crime’ and a sanctuary city, the source groused.”
President Trump’s administration has pledged to address these systemic failures in immigration enforcement. The Delaney Hall incident demonstrates precisely why stronger border security and more effective detention policies are essential. As one dangerous escapee remains at large and hundreds of detainees have been shuffled around the country, American citizens are left to bear the consequences of a broken immigration system that prioritizes the interests of illegal immigrants over public safety and fiscal responsibility.
