“Today, the Cityof Newark is filing a complaint with Essex County Superior Court because ICEhas opened their Delaney Hall facility without following proper building safetyprotocols. They failed to give city officials access to conduct inspectionsrequired under municipal ordinances and state code. This violates city andstate law.

“The City wasinformed that construction work is taking place in the building withoutrequired permits. The Department of Engineering imposed a stop work order tohalt any and all construction on the site today. Two ICE officials and the GEOGroup facility director on site were made aware of the violations.

“In addition,ICE has failed to apply for construction permits, continued certificates ofoccupancy, and requests to change the building’s use.

“The agreementbetween ICE and the GEO Group to use Delaney Hall with the intention ofincarcerating and holding immigrants slated for deportation does not supersedethe ordinances and procedures legislated by the City of Newark and the State ofNew Jersey.

“As I havestated in the past, without compliance with requirements, Delaney Hall cannotlawfully open. We will not tolerate federal attempts to ignore or evade ourlaws and statutes, which apply to everyone.”

̶  NEWARK   ̶

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