16 Jun 2025

Four Detainees Escape from Delaney Hall in Newark, NJ

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Four people being kept in Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey, broke through a wall and escaped, possibly during unrest that erupted after detainees were not fed for 20 hours.

The escapees were:

  • Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes of Honduras, detained for aggravated assault, attempted bodily harm, terroristic threats, and a weapons offense
  • Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez of Honduras, facing charges of unlawful firearm possession in October and aggravated assault in February
  • Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada of Colombia, accused of burglary, theft, and conspiracy
  • Andrés Felipe Pineda-Mogollón of Colombia, charged with minor theft and burglary

Delaney Hall is owned and operated privately as a 1000 bed immigrant detention center by GEO Group on a $1 billion contract with the federal government.

The city of Newark tried repeatedly to block its opening, saying it lacked appropriate permits and inspections. Members of Congress have also sought to make oversight inspections. One such occasion led to the arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka by federal agents. Days later, the federal government dropped charges against him but issued three charges against Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, who was part of the delegation trying to inspect the facility when Baraka was arrested.

Lawyers for people being held in the facility said a group inside was rebelling over poor conditions such as lack of food. Families report the detainees get small portions of food far apart, such as breakfast at 06:00, no lunch, dinner at 22:00, and meals are sometimes only two slices of bread.

The water reportedly has an odor and tastes bad. Some detainees have to sleep on the floor. Conditions were hot, with malfunctioning air conditioning in weather above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The facility went into lockdown. All legal visits with migrants held there, including phone calls and virtual meetings, were suspended until further notice.

A woman whose husband is being held there told CBS News that a fight started at lunchtime after people gone 20 hours without food. “He said they were breaking things, just trying to get anybody’s attention, because they are constantly ignored. I asked my husband what was his role and part in it, and he said, ‘I’m hiding. I’m scared for my life.'”

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