Fox News Report: Inside ICE’s Delaney Hall Amidst Democratic Criticism
Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy provided viewers with an inside look at ICE’s Delaney Hall, a facility in Newark, New Jersey, which recently became the center of controversy after Democratic lawmakers attempted an oversight visit that led to arrests. Campos-Duffy’s report aimed to counter the narrative of inhumane conditions often associated with ICE detention centers, presenting a picture of a clean and well-equipped facility.
According to Campos-Duffy, Delaney Hall offers a range of recreational amenities for detainees. These include outdoor soccer fields, weight equipment, and domino tables, designed to provide opportunities for physical activity and leisure. She also emphasized the accessibility of communication resources, stating that the facility is equipped with telephones throughout, accompanied by readily available contact information for detainees’ respective consulates.
The report also highlighted the availability of legal resources for detainees. Campos-Duffy mentioned the presence of legal facilities, computers, and webcams, suggesting that individuals have access to tools necessary to navigate their legal proceedings. Perhaps most surprisingly, she claimed that the doors to sleeping areas are not locked, implying a level of freedom and security within the facility.
Campos-Duffy went on to draw comparisons between Delaney Hall and other institutions, asserting that it "actually looks like a high school, actually looks better than a lot of high schools," and that "a lot [of] our own prisons for American citizens could take a lesson from this facility." These comparisons sought to challenge the perception of ICE detention centers as inherently punitive and substandard.
The tour of Delaney Hall was led by Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons, who informed Campos-Duffy that over 75% of the individuals held at the facility were felons or facing felony charges. Campos-Duffy elaborated on the nature of these alleged crimes, stating that they range from rape and murder to burglary and other offenses. This detail served to underscore the argument that the individuals detained at Delaney Hall pose a potential threat to public safety.
A key element of Campos-Duffy’s report was the emphasis on the detainees’ agency and ability to self-deport. She explained that signs in both English and Spanish are prominently displayed throughout the facility, informing detainees of their option to return to their home countries. These signs include a phone number to initiate the self-deportation process, or detainees can simply express their desire to return home to facility staff.
Campos-Duffy claimed that ICE facilitates the self-deportation process by arranging a free flight within 48 hours and providing $1,000 to assist with resettlement. She argued that this system contradicts the notion that detainees are "here with no agency" or "being detained with no choices."
The Fox News report contextualized Campos-Duffy’s visit within the broader political landscape surrounding immigration enforcement. It noted that her visit occurred shortly after Democratic lawmakers attempted to conduct an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, an effort that resulted in the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for trespassing. The report included video footage of "terse exchanges between lawmakers and ICE agents," with lawmakers claiming that the agents escalated the situation.
DHS countered these claims, pointing to a video that allegedly shows New Jersey State Representative LaMonica McIver "shoving her way past a DHS agent," and even "body slamming the officer." McIver rejected the accusation, stating, "There’s no video that supports me body slamming anyone. We were simply there to do our job, therefore oversight visit." Despite the initial confrontation, the lawmakers were eventually granted access to the facility.
Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss, called on DHS to "release all the footage" to let the public decide while speaking to Fox & Friends First on Monday.
The article concluded by referencing a Pew Research Center poll that found a majority of Americans support deporting illegal immigrants, although their reasons for doing so varied. 32% of U.S. adults said all illegal immigrants should be deported, while 16% said none should be. Around half said that at least some immigrants living in the country illegally should be deported, though they disagreed on the factors that should warrant deportation.
