Jefferson Van Drew

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-NJ, toured Newark’s Delaney Hall ICE detention facility on Monday and presented a strikingly different view of it than protesters, state leaders and Democratic members of Congress.

In an interview with NJ.com outside the facility, Van Drew said the detainees are living better than half of America and about 90% of the world.

“They have medical care, they have physicians, nurses,” Van Drew said. “They have a law library. They have a regular library. They have all the facilities. They have a beautiful soccer field, great workout equipment — beyond anything you would normally expect."

The congressman also countered claims made by detainees about the quality of food served inside. Van Drew said the food includes Halal and Kosher items, as well as specific meals for those on salt restricted diets. He added that detainees are also receiving the medical care they need.

“Half of these people coming in are sick and they’re actually doing medical tests, and they’re actually getting them medications and treatment they need and medical care they need,” Van Drew said. “As well as their food. Their diet is great there.”

Widespread protests started at Delaney Hall over Memorial Day weekend, following allegations of inhumane conditions, including abuse, spoiled food, starvation and lack of medical care at the privately-owned detention facility that the Trump administration contracts to house undocumented immigrants amid its mass deportation push.

Detainees and former detainees claim food with worms has been served and detainees with life-threatening health conditions have been refused treatment. Detainees have also been forced to provide food service, sanitation and facility maintenance labor for as little as $1 or $2 per day, and some have even gone months without receiving any pay, activists said.

GEO Group, the company that operates Delaney Hall, denied Gov. Mikie Sherrill entry on Memorial Day.

The same day, U.S. Sen. Andy Kim,, D-N.J., and others were pepper-sprayed during protests outside the facility. The state health department was also denied full access to the detention center during an inspection on Thursday, the governor said.

The Trump administration denies the poor conditions and the existence of the hunger strike. Federal officials have also called the protesters “rioters” who have ignored law enforcement’s commands and assaulted officers, and agents have “used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property.”

Trouble then broke out at Delaney Hall on Thursday afternoon when multiple assaults by ICE officers were reported at the detention center. Make the Road New Jersey, a local advocacy group, said about a dozen protesters were assaulted. Family members also reported the assaults of multiple detainees.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security — which oversees ICE — has since claimed the assaults were fights between inmates and that federal agents used the minimum amount of force to break up the fights.

On Friday, Sherrill and New Jersey Attorney General announced that the State Police were taking over operations outside the facility and creating marked peaceful protest zones. Clashes between law enforcement and protesters grew over the weekend, as well as criticism over the governor’s decision to deploy state police to the area. Newark also established a curfew around Delaney Hall.

In his interview on Monday, Van Drew said the protests that have been held at Delaney Hall are much like the ANTIFA far-left riots of 2020.

“It’s people that want to change the substance and structure of America,” he said. “They want wide-open boarders, and quite frankly, they want anarchy ... These are not good, normal people.”

Van Drew also criticized statements made by protesters and Democrats that many of the detainees do not have criminal records. He said many of the detainees have committed domestic abuse, money laundering, cocaine distribution and other felonies.

“What’s going on here is the right thing,” Van Drew said. “We’re treating people with dignity and humanity, but we’re also making sure they don’t hurt other folks, and that they don’t break the law.”