Concerns Over Conditions in U.S. Immigration Detention Centers

Tensions are rising at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, N.J. Activists and officials are increasingly angered by reports of poor conditions for immigrants held there. Protests have sometimes resulted in federal officers using pepper spray and tear gas.

Silky Shah leads the Detention Watch Network, which monitors U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. She shares concern over conditions unseen by the public. Shah speaks of issues such as serving rotten food, medical neglect, and lack of support for detainees. These claims aren’t limited to Delaney Hall, she says, but occur nationwide.

DHS and GEO Group, a private prison contractor, counter the allegations, labeling them a politically motivated effort against ICE. Nationwide, detainees have sued due to poor conditions in centers run by GEO Group, which manages about a third of ICE detention facilities.

A Link Between Private Prisons and ICE

GEO Group, which also operates state prisons, derives roughly half its revenue from ICE contracts. The company aligns its operations with the government’s deportation policies, controlling numerous detention facilities and offering transportation and monitoring services through BI Incorporated.

Lauren-Brooke Eisen from the Brennan Center for Justice critiques the reliance on a profit-driven network for detention services. GEO Group and similar entities expanded operations in response to deportation demands, even reopening old prisons. In 2025, GEO’s profits surged to over $250 million, a stark increase.

Substandard conditions persist, documented by various groups, despite GEO Group claiming compliance with government standards and providing necessary services. The company cites 40 years of supporting ICE law enforcement efforts.

Secrecy and Accountability Issues

Private prison companies like GEO Group aren’t bound by public records requirements, limiting transparency, Eisen notes. This secrecy hampers public access to information, especially when deaths occur in custody. Privatization leads to shifting accountability between corporations and the government.

Recent congressional hearings spotlighted access issues at detention centers. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin faced criticism for not ensuring state health authorities access to Delaney Hall, leading to legal actions for access in New Jersey and Washington state.

Personnel Connections and Ethical Concerns

The overlap between ICE operations and private prison companies prompts concern over conflicts of interest. GEO Group has historical ties with several DHS officials, including David Venturella, now acting director of ICE, and Tom Homan, White House Border Czar.

Former officials like Scott Shuchart describe meetings with GEO Group as akin to reunions of familiar faces. Lawmakers such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren question the ethical implications of such connections and seek answers about potential recusals.

DHS defends Venturella’s qualifications, emphasizing adherence to ethical standards. As DHS funds rapidly expand the private detention system, advocates warn about oversight reductions and shed light on detention-related fatalities, marking 2026 as notably deadly.

Reporter Gwynne Hogan contributed to the coverage of these developments.