NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) toured the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility on Monday, saying the conditions he observed differed sharply from allegations made by critics of the facility.
Following the visit, Van Drew described the Newark detention center as clean, well-maintained, and equipped with services intended to meet detainees’ basic needs. According to the congressman, the facility includes on-site medical professionals, legal resources, recreational areas, and accommodations for various dietary requirements.
“What I saw was clean, organized, and well-run,” Van Drew opined on X. “Clean dorms. On-site doctors, nurses, and dentists. A law library. A regular library. A gym. A soccer field. Meals for allergies, kosher requirements, religious needs, and medical restrictions. So let’s stop pretending this is about conditions.”
Van Drew said detainees have access to doctors, nurses, dentists, a law library, and recreational amenities including a gymnasium and soccer field. He also noted that meal options are available for individuals with religious, allergy-related, or other dietary restrictions.
The South Jersey incumbent argued that public debate surrounding the facility has become increasingly politicized. He said his firsthand observations contradicted claims that detainees are being held in poor conditions and contended that Delaney Hall is operating as intended under federal immigration authorities.
The congressman also emphasized the criminal backgrounds of many individuals being held at the facility, citing offenses such as drug trafficking, weapons violations, assault, fraud, money laundering, and cocaine distribution. He said those detained represent the type of offenders federal immigration authorities should prioritize for removal from local communities.
Van Drew’s comments come amid ongoing demonstrations outside Delaney Hall, where immigration activists and elected officials have protested the reopening and operation of the facility. The protests have drawn attention from both supporters and opponents of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
While affirming Americans’ right to peacefully protest, Van Drew condemned incidents involving violence or interference with law enforcement. He said individuals who assault officers, throw objects, or obstruct federal agents should be held accountable.
The congressman called for continued cooperation among local police departments, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies, arguing that coordination between law enforcement agencies is necessary to maintain public safety and order around the facility.
Van Drew pledged to continue supporting ICE officers and federal personnel assigned to immigration enforcement duties, describing their work as essential to community safety.
He later shared his post-visit observations with Fox News:
I toured Delaney Hall today to see the facts for myself.
What I saw was clean, organized, and well-run.
Clean dorms. On-site doctors, nurses, and dentists. A law library. A regular library. A gym. A soccer field. Meals for allergies, kosher requirements, religious needs, and… pic.twitter.com/UrYFt0hfMF
— Congressman Jeff Van Drew (@Congressman_JVD) June 1, 2026
