New Jersey's federal lawmakers are adding their voices to a growing list of advocates who want to see the Elizabeth detention center shut down.
The prison was slated to close August 31st as part of a 2021 law signed by Governor Murphy.
It put an end to all immigration detention contracts here.
Well, now the private company operating the facility is suing the state to keep its doors open, saying it would be a catastrophic move for detained immigrants.
And the nation.
Freshman Congressman Robin Mendez is among those in favor of the closure, despite the Biden administration's recent pushback against that action.
He joins me now.
Congressman, it's good to have you on the show and to get a chance to talk to you about this, because obviously this has been an issue for your district for some time.
You have been very vocal about closing this center permanently.
Tell me specifically why.
Well, first, thanks for having me on.
With respect to the detention center in Elizabeth, this is a last remaining ICE detention center in New Jersey.
And New Jersey has clearly stated its intent to no longer have these types of facilities in our state.
The community has made it clear that it no longer has a desire to have this facility operational in Elizabeth.
And it's time that we represent and reflect the desires of both the folks in Elizabeth, the folks in the district and the folks statewide.
We don't want a privately run detention center in their community.
But the federal government, the Biden administration has now filed a petition of interest, basically backing this lawsuit, that Core Civic, which runs the center's lawsuit against the state in the attempt to close this.
What's your interpretation of whether or not this is unconstitutional?
Do you disagree with the Department of Justice on that?
So we only get to the supremacy clause if you believe the detention should be operational, right in the in the government's decision to have it continue to operate.
I believe that's the wrong decision and that we don't need it here in New Jersey.
We don't need it here in the eighth Congressional District.
And there are other ways to monitor folks who are going through the immigration system that doesn't require detention center.
And so before we even get to the constitutionality of it, it should be a question of whether this was the right decision for our community, whether it's the right decision for this district, or if it isn't what we can do to create alternatives to detention that would enable DHS to do what it needs to do.
But have these folks in their communities not at a privately run detention center.
That, to me is the core issue, the constitutional challenge.
There's a case in California that will be decided.
To me, it's about reflecting the values of community, and having this detention center to continue to be operational in Elizabeth is not consistent with our values.
What about folks?
I mean, I hear what you're saying, because these are arguments that have been made for some time, like allowing asylum seekers or folks who are having immigration cases play out, remain with with family or at home while that happens.
What about folks who are criminally charged?
I mean, what's the option there?
DOJ and Core Civic has said that, you know, that would pose a threat to the community.
Do you disagree?
So first, I think we overindex when we talk about folks who are here on undocumented basis and we focus so much of the conversations around people that may have engaged in criminal activity.
Right.
Most people are here with a nexus to their families, a nexus of the communities that they have helped be a part of.
And the criminal actors, to me or the minority of folks.
But we spend so much time talking about those actors and what we do with them that we don't focus on the people who have contributed to our community, people who are family members of people that live in the eighth Congressional District.
If you center the conversation there, you would not believe in needing the detention center in Elizabeth.
Do you share concerns that this has become a profit making machine by having contracts with ICE?
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
One, if you look at the Biden administration early in the administration, they issued an executive order where DOJ could not contract with private facilities.
Right.
DHS was not part of that executive order.
So to me, it's a signals that there's an understanding that privately run detention centers in any capacity are not good for communities.
If you're trying to make margins and a profit.
Right, and you have a converted warehouse, you're not investing in that structure.
Right.
This was a problem during COVID and people were packed into each other with no ventilation.
So, yeah, it is problematic.
That's a for profit enterprise.
All right, Congressman Robert Menendez, thanks so much for sharing your time with us tonight.
Great being with you.