Core Points - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun housing detainees at Delaney Hall in Newark, NJ, starting May 1, 2025, amidst significant controversy and protests from immigrant rights advocates and local officials [3][4][6] - The facility, which has a capacity of 1,000 beds, is the first federal detention center to open under President Donald Trump's second term, aimed at expanding ICE's detention capacity in the Northeast and facilitating deportations [6][8] - The GEO Group, which operates Delaney Hall, has been awarded a 15-year contract valued at approximately $1 billion, expected to generate over $60 million in annual revenues in its first full year of operations [7][12] Legal and Regulatory Context - A 2021 New Jersey state law prohibits all prisons, public or private, from entering new contracts with ICE for holding federal detainees, as well as from expanding or renewing existing agreements [9][10] - The GEO Group and CoreCivic are challenging this state ban in court, with the Biden administration supporting the private prison companies, arguing for the necessity of detention centers near airports for operational efficiency [10][11] - Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has accused ICE of opening Delaney Hall without proper permits and inspections, claiming violations of city and state laws [15]