This is the way to help Delaney Hall detainees
By: Josh Gottheimer
Your Turn
Guest columnist
..... Regarding "Gottheimer must speak louder on Delaney Hall injustices" (Opinion, July 17): [2026]
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As part of my congressional oversight responsibilities, I have been consistently and aggressively engaged in importing the conditions engaged in improving the conditions at Delaney Hall. So I was disappointed to see a recent article suggesting otherwise. I want to set the record straight because I'd hate to have more fake information sloshing around social media.
..... When I heard from a constituent that Unit 4 in Delaney Hall was having air-conditioning problems, I raised the issue directly, at the highest levels, with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On July 8, [2026] we contacted ICE, which told us repairs were roughly 85% complete, and hat the one affected unit had been fully evacuated, ensuring that detainees where moved to an air-conditioned part of the facility.
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We followed up multiple times until we received assurance that the air-conditioning had been fixed throughout Delaney.
..... As of July 17, [2026] officials assured me that the air-condition in Unit 4 has been repaired and was, once again fully operational.
..... That's how you actually get things done: You make the calls, you keep pushing, and you verify until the problem is solved.
..... Earlier this sumer, [2026] after vising Delaney Hall, I worked with DHS and my congressional colleagues to secure the release of a young student just in time for her high school graduation. during my visit, she shared with me that she hopes to build a career in law and help others held in Delaney Hall as a translator. It was abundantly clear that she, like many others at the facility, did not belong in custody. I'm proud to have swiftly helped secure her release.
..... I've been consistent in my view that our immigration policy must live up to our values as Americans. For years, I've worked on comprehensive immigration reform, including he Dignity Act, a bipartisan commonsense approach. I also helped negotiate the bipartisan immigration deal that, unfortunately, President Donald Trump pressured Republicans to kill in 2024.
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In 2024, drawing attention to conditions, I joined the entire Democratic New Jersey congressional delegation in opposing the sue of Delaney Hall as a private immigration detention center. As ICE operations expanded in our streets, I introduced the ICE Standard Act, commonsense legislation to establish professional, constitutional guardrails for federal immigration enforcement.
..... I have been consistent in my calls for increased training standards to ensure our immigration enforcement is conducted with the highest levels of professionalism and with full independent accountability and transparency. I also demanded that all offers coercive training in deescalation and constitutional search and seizure. I spoke out vociferously after the horrific killings in Minnesota of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
..... Finally, after the deaths of two individuals during ICE operations this month, [07/2026]
I sent a letter to DHS and ICE asking important questions seeking transparency about training, use of body-worn cameras, coordination with state and local law enforcement and use-of-force standards. In June, [2026] I helped claw back $8.5 million for DHS to support law enforcement and protect families in Bergen County.
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I've built relationship across the aisle, so that when a crisis hits, I'm not starting form scratch. I can't just hold a press conference or spot on social media. that alone rarely results in action. You also need to directly engage with the decision-makers and try to actually solve the problem. The people inside Delaney Hall and their families need a workhorse, not a show horse. We need to get results, because that's what matters.
..... Representative Josh Gottheimer, D-Tenafly, represents New Jersey's 5th district.