Context:

Mayor Ras J. Baraka of Newark led a predawn protest against the new immigrant detention center operated by GEO Group, arguing that the facility lacks the necessary permits to operate legally. The facility, Delaney Hall, is set to house up to 1,000 migrants a day as part of the Trump administration's deportation efforts, sparking tensions between city officials and the federal government. Despite Newark's legal challenges and inspections being blocked, GEO Group has started housing detainees under a federal contract. Activists and religious leaders have joined the protest, citing concerns about detainee welfare and the prioritization of profit over humane treatment. Meanwhile, ICE, facing pressure to increase detention capacity, hopes for increased funding to expand facilities as part of broader deportation measures.

Dive Deeper:

• Mayor Ras J. Baraka is protesting the operation of Delaney Hall, an immigrant detention center, due to the facility's lack of valid city permits and a certificate of occupancy, which Newark officials argue makes GEO Group's operations illegal.

• The facility, capable of holding up to 1,000 migrants daily, plays a critical role in the Trump administration's deportation strategy due to its proximity to Newark Liberty International Airport and New York City.

• Despite the city issuing citations for code violations and attempts to inspect the facility, GEO Group has already started housing detainees, citing a valid certificate of occupancy and federal oversight by ICE.

• Activists, including religious leaders and immigrant rights organizations, have joined the protest, expressing concerns over detainee safety and the facility's profit-driven motives, which they believe endanger vulnerable populations.

• The federal government, through ICE, is under pressure to expand detention capacities to meet increasing immigration arrests, aiming to secure significant funding from Congress to build new facilities, as part of efforts to deport millions of undocumented individuals.

• Protesters have maintained a daily vigil outside Delaney Hall, with support from figures like Pope Francis, who advocates against discriminatory narratives and the detention of non-criminal migrants.

• GEO Group defends its operations by arguing that ICE controls access protocols and accuses Mayor Baraka's actions of being politically motivated to aid his gubernatorial campaign.