a day ago
Four migrants escape from ICE detention centre
Four migrants have escaped a detention centre in New Jersey amid reports of a possible uprising.
The men, whom authorities say are 'public safety threats', broke out of Newark's Delaney Hall facility on Thursday, where individuals are being held ahead of possible deportation proceedings.
According to reports, they were able to push down an outer wall and escape the property, which was recently converted into a detention centre at a cost of $1 billion as part of Donald Trump's mass deportation drive.
The men have been identified as Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes, Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez, Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada and Andres Pineda-Mogollon, who are Honduran and Colombian nationals.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to their arrests.
On Thursday night, reports emerged of a possible uprising and breakout at the facility, as protesters, demonstrating against the Trump administration's deportation push, locked arms and pushed against barricades as vehicles passed through the gates.
Precisely what unfolded inside Delaney Hall is still unclear.
Amy Torres, the executive director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, claimed officers had pepper sprayed and dragged protesters away from the facility.
Mustafa Cetis, a lawyer acting for one of the migrants, said detainees had turned 'aggressive' and 'violent' amid arguments with authorities over food.
'Based on what he told me it was an outer wall, not very strong, and they were able to push it down,' he continued.
DHS said in a statement that it 'has become aware of four detainees at the privately held Delaney Hall Detention facility escaping', adding that 'additional law enforcement partners have been brought in to find these escapees'.
Delaney Hall has been the site of clashes this year between Democratic officials, who say the facility needs more oversight, and the authorities.
Last month, LaMonica McIver, a Democrat congresswoman, was charged with assaulting federal officers stemming from a skirmish that happened outside the facility after a visit to the centre.
Ms McIver said in a statement that she had 'serious concerns about the reports of abusive circumstances at the facility,' and that her office had reached out to immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) for answers.
On Friday, Democrat Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, who has been critical of Mr Trump's immigration crackdown, called for an end to this 'chaos and not allow this operation to continue unchecked'.
'We are concerned about reports of what has transpired at Delaney Hall this evening, ranging from withholding food and poor treatment, to uprising and escaped detainees,' he said.
In a statement issued on Friday, American Friends Service Committee said people inside the facility reported getting small portions of food, with breakfast at 6am, dinner at 10pm and no lunch.
