Four migrants escaped from the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday evening amid a disturbance reportedly sparked by delayed meals. A senior Homeland Security official confirmed the incident began when roughly 50 detainees became agitated. Immigration attorney Mustafa Cetin stated that the unrest escalated when detainees tore down a dormitory wall, causing chaos. Some escapees allegedly used bedsheets to aid their breakout. Witnesses, including Rutgers professor Whitney Strub, reported a gas smell in the facility, with many coughing, possibly due to exposure. A strong police response, including officers from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office and Newark Police, quickly surrounded the area. PIX11 News captured footage of escapees near Turnpike 78 and Delancey Street, while protesters outside the center blocked an SUV attempting to leave.

The escape highlights growing concerns over the management and oversight of privately run immigration detention centers. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka expressed alarm, citing systemic issues including inadequate supervision and poor detainee treatment. He called for full transparency from both the GEO Group, which operates the facility, and the Department of Homeland Security. The breakout occurred just two days after Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) was indicted for allegedly obstructing federal officers during a May 9 oversight visit to Delaney Hall. McIver faces charges carrying up to 17 years in prison. The timing of the escape and McIver’s indictment has reignited debate over detainee rights, conditions in ICE facilities, and the role of private companies in managing immigration detention.