Protests at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, N.J. have become tense and chaotic. Activists and officials express anger at reports of inhumane conditions faced by immigrants held there. Federal immigration officers have at times used pepper spray and tear gas in response to demonstrations.
Silky Shah, leader of Detention Watch Network, emphasizes concerns about hidden conditions inside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. “People are being served rotten food, subject to medical neglect, and lack any support,” Shah stated.
What’s happening behind closed doors is that much more horrifying. People being served rotten food. Complete medical neglect. Absolutely no support for people who are inside. That is not unique to Delaney Hall. That is happening everywhere.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and private contractor GEO Group deny the allegations regarding Delaney Hall. They claim it is a politically motivated campaign to dismantle ICE. However, lawsuits by detainees across the country highlight poor conditions.
One-third of people in immigration detention are in facilities run by GEO Group. As former GEO Group executive David Venturella becomes acting director of ICE, ties between the company and the agency deepen.
Reliance on Private Prisons
GEO Group generates about half its revenue from ICE contracts. It positions itself as a key player in mass deportation, running nearly two dozen detention facilities nationwide. The company also offers transportation and electronic monitoring services.
With President Trump’s return to office, GEO Group and other private prison companies hurried to meet government demands for more detention beds. This effort included re-opening long-vacant prisons. In 2025, GEO Group reported over $250 million in profit, a nearly 700% increase from the previous year.
Critics and legal experts warn that the profit-driven model incentivizes cost-cutting measures, adversely affecting detainee welfare. Katherine Hawkins from the Project on Government Oversight points out that private prisons introduce a profit motive into the equation.
Despite allegations, GEO Group claims its detention centers comply with government standards. The company asserts it provides continuous access to medical care and other services.
Concerns Over Transparency
Private prison companies face fewer public records requirements than government-operated facilities, creating accountability concerns. Lauren-Brooke Eisen of the Brennan Center for Justice states fatalities in detention often lack transparency, increasing secrecy when corporations manage prisons.
These private companies can redirect accountability questions to the government, and vice versa. GEO Group directs further inquiries to ICE, further complicating transparency efforts.
Access issues between the government and private companies are ongoing. For instance, New Jersey sued GEO Group for access to Delaney Hall after DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin refused to commit to granting full access.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
Observers express worries over GEO Group’s growing influence within the immigration detention industry. A revolving door exists between ICE and private prison companies. David Venturella exemplifies this, having worked for both ICE and GEO Group.
Some lawmakers, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest, pressing Venturella to recuse himself from matters benefiting GEO Group.
With DHS expanding its private detention network and reducing oversight personnel, immigrant advocates warn of consequences. According to official data, 2026 has already become the deadliest year in immigration detention history.