Key facts
- New Jersey is allocating an additional $12 million to its migrant legal defense fund.
- The total funding for the initiative reaches $20.2 million.
- The program provides free legal counsel to migrants facing removal proceedings.
- DHS data suggests commissary revenue surged during a reported hunger strike, casting doubt on its validity.
- Several lawmakers toured the Delaney Hall ICE facility, with differing assessments of conditions.
New Jersey's Democratic governor announced an increase of $12 million for the state's Detention Deportation Defense Initiative, bringing the total allocated funds to $20.2 million. This initiative provides free legal counsel to migrants within the state who are subject to removal proceedings, aiming to ensure due process and protect human rights. The announcement follows nearly two weeks of protests and clashes outside the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark. Reports of a hunger and labor strike at the facility around May 23 have been disputed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS shared data indicating that commissary revenue at Delaney Hall surged significantly during the reported strike period, with sales nearly tripling from over $11,000 to over $30,000 in a week, despite a decrease in the detainee population. DHS officials suggested detainees were trading meals for snacks, with Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Bis calling the hunger strike claims a 'hoax.' Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated the facility is not a 'Holiday Inn.' Several Democratic lawmakers toured the facility and reported concerns about conditions, though some, like Representative Herb Conaway Jr., stated they did not witness 'major concerns' during their visit.