Four migrants escaped from the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday evening following a disturbance inside the facility, according to a senior Homeland Security official. The incident reportedly began due to delayed meals, which angered around 50 detainees. Immigration attorney Mustafa Cetin said the situation escalated when detainees pulled down a dormitory wall, creating chaos. Some reportedly used bedsheets to aid their escape, and there were reports of a gas smell inside the building. By 6 p.m., a strong police presence from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office and Newark Police had surrounded the facility. Rutgers professor Whitney Strub, who was outside Delaney Hall, noted that many people began coughing—possibly from gas exposure. Protesters also blocked an SUV attempting to exit the premises. PIX11 News reported seeing the escapees fleeing near Turnpike 78 and Delancey Street.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka voiced serious concerns over the incident, pointing to systemic issues such as inadequate oversight, the treatment of detainees, and the challenges posed by privately run immigration facilities. He demanded transparency from the GEO Group and the Department of Homeland Security. The escape came just two days after Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) was indicted for allegedly obstructing federal officers during a May 9 oversight visit to the same facility. McIver, who faces charges carrying up to 17 years in prison, had been trying to assess the conditions inside. The incident underscores broader concerns about detainee rights and the role of private immigration detention centers.