Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., MD Statement on Visiting Delaney Hall Protests

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., M.D., released the following statement regarding his visit to the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in New Jersey amid reports of inhumane conditions. Congressman Conaway joined Congressman Donald Norcross on the tour.

 

“I was horrified and outraged by reports of the inhumane living conditions that detainees at Delaney Hall are allegedly being subjected to. The reported lack of due process, limited access to medical care, and concerns about water quality are extremely alarming, and I felt it was my duty to personally conduct oversight of the facility.

 

“Congressman Norcross and I toured the kitchen and medical facilities and spoke with 20 women inside Delaney Hall. While I did not observe any major concerns during my visit, I remain cautious about concluding that the previously reported issues regarding detainee well-being do not exist. We provided 48 hours’ notice before our visit, and significant efforts could have been made during that time to make conditions appear more presentable than those described in news reports.

 

“ICE and DHS must now allow state investigators to enter Delaney Hall and conduct a comprehensive review of the entire facility, rather than limiting oversight to specific areas. If the reports of inhumane treatment are inaccurate, I would expect DHS and ICE to welcome independent investigators and the opportunity to address these concerns.

 

“Until a full and independent investigation is completed, this facility should be shut down. I will continue to call for increased oversight and thorough investigations into Delaney Hall and ICE as a whole. I will also continue to oppose additional ICE and DHS funding until they rein in their agents and recommit to our nation’s longstanding principles of due process and humane treatment.”