ELIZABETH, N.J. - Today, Representatives Rob Menendez (NJ-08), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) made an unannounced visit to the Elizabeth Detention Center, the state’s only operational privately contracted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) detention center.
Their visit followed an increase in ICE activity in New Jersey and the region as a result of President Donald Trump’s renewed attacks on immigrant communities. In January, ICE agents conducted a raid in Newark, arresting three individuals and questioning U.S. citizens. There have been numerous additional reports of ICE activity in the region since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
“The Trump administration continues to inflict fear and anxiety on immigrant communities in New Jersey, highlighting the urgent need for us to continue exercising our oversight authority as Members of Congress,” said Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08). “We have been outspoken against the administration’s targeting of immigrants, and today’s visit was a continuation of our efforts to safeguard their legal and constitutional rights. Along with my colleagues, we’ll remain steadfast in our work to maintain checks and balances with the Executive Branch and conduct rigorous oversight of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, prioritizing the health, safety, and right to due process of those who are most vulnerable in our communities.”
“Today, we exercised our oversight responsibility to inspect an ICE facility in Elizabeth—and we were denied access and delayed for nearly an hour,” said Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10). “Once inside, we questioned agents and saw the facility, but we still need more answers for our community on ICE activity and raids. The agency’s actions in Newark have threatened and scared people across New Jersey, and we are just getting started in the work to hold ICE accountable and demand answers about the safety of our neighbors.”
"Instead of working with Democrats to build a fair and safe immigration process, the Trump administration has instead leaned into chaos, confusion, and cruelty," said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). "They've created a climate of fear and use that fear to mask their efforts to take away core rights. We need to join together across racial differences to demand a fair and safe immigration process for all families. Meanwhile, it's also important that we exercise Congress's oversight role to ensure detainees are treated fairly and humanely. I will continue to work with my colleagues here in New Jersey as well as Washington to do just that."
This is Representative Menendez’s second visit to the Elizabeth Detention Center. Since coming to Congress, he has been a strong advocate for its closure due to decades of complaints and allegations of abuse. In the first weeks of President Trump’s term, Menendez, McIver, and Watson Coleman have taken swift action in response to the administration’s harmful policies that directly and adversely impact our communities. Following the January ICE raid in Newark, they along with other members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding answers as to the circumstances of the raid. Representing a district that is more than 40% foreign-born, Menendez has been a leading voice in Congress on protecting immigrant communities. He serves as the Vice Chair of Policy for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the 119th Congress.
