WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Rob Menendez today released the following statement after reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) plans to sell a Roxbury Township warehouse purchased for use as an immigrant detention facility.
“We are working to confirm reporting that ICE is abandoning its Roxbury warehouse plans, but if true, this would be big news.
“From day one, we have fought to stop this facility, bringing together thousands of New Jerseyans in opposition.
“Now we are on the cusp of an important win for our state.”
Since coming to Congress, Rob Menendez has been a leader on fighting for immigrant rights and on oversight of detention centers. An initiative created by Congressman Menendez united thousands of New Jerseyans in ultimately successful opposition to the Roxbury warehouse. Congressman Menendez also previously led the New Jersey Democratic delegation in multiple letters demanding that DHS halt ICE’s warehouse detention plan in Roxbury.
Congressman Menendez has repeatedly called for the closure of all immigrant detention centers in New Jersey and has conducted several unannounced visits of Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center. Congressman Menendez has also called for the end of ICE and led efforts to demand that ICE agents identify themselves when conducting enforcement operations. Earlier this year, he was on the ground in Minnesota for a field hearing, listening to the testimony of victims of ICE and DHS’s abuses and state and local elected officials.
