New Jersey Opens a Civil Rights Investigation Into Delaney Hall and Subpoenas GEO Group After Detainee Deaths

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced on Aug. 7 that her office’s Division on Civil Rights has issued investigative subpoenas to The GEO Group over the operation of Delaney Hall, the 1,000-bed privately run immigration detention center in Newark. The investigation will examine whether action or inaction by GEO Group employees violated the civil rights of people detained there, including their right to humane treatment and adequate medical care. It follows the Aug. 1 death of Edwin Jeovanny López Cornejo, 41, after a medical episode, and the December death of Jean Wilson Brutus, 41.

A state civil rights agency is asserting jurisdiction over a federal immigration facility by reaching the private contractor that runs it rather than ICE. Immigration detention is a federal function and states have limited authority over it. Gov. Mikie Sherrill said ICE and GEO Group have blocked state efforts to conduct a full health inspection.

The investigation is at the subpoena stage and no findings have been issued. GEO Group referred questions to ICE, and ICE and DHS did not respond to requests for comment. Congressional Democrats alleged the same week that a third detainee had died.