Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) said Monday that she “was finally allowed into Delaney Hall” after being denied entry for the past two weeks, though she noted that her tour of the immigration detention center was “closely controlled and limited” by federal authorities.The governor described the visit in a statement as unacceptable.“I was not allowed to meet or speak directly with the detainees, which continues to raise serious questions about the real conditions of the facility and the treatment of those held there,” she posted on X. “I will continue to push to speak with the detainees directly. They deserve to be heard and the public deserves answers.”
Sherrill initially tried getting into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Memorial Day, but the federal agency barred her and other New Jersey Democrats from entering.
The New Jersey Department of Health was later granted access to the site, but the state inspection was limited to one area. Sherrill similarly criticized ICE for not allowing full access to the facility at the time. Following her latest attempt to tour the building, she remained defiant.
“I will keep fighting for full transparency and accountability from ICE alongside our advocates and members of our federal delegation,” Sherrill said. “That means securing full access for the Department of Health to inspect this facility through the lawsuit spearheaded by my Attorney General, continuing our actions that have stopped the construction of the proposed detention facility in Roxbury, and our court fight to ensure that law enforcement may not conceal their identities while on duty.”
