Newly Released Documents Reveal Illegal Immigrants Attempted ESCAPE from Detention Facility

ICE Special Agents (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) arresting suspects during a raid. (Photo Courtesy of ICE)

Newly released Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) documents show a disturbing escape attempt by multiple illegal immigrants at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey. 

The incident, which unfolded on June 12, 2025, exposes not only the danger posed by criminal aliens but also the catastrophic mismanagement under sanctuary state policies supported by .

According to the documents, ICE detainees inside the facility became violent, banging on walls and windows while staff attempted to restore order. 

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At first, GEO Group, the private contractor running the facility, was instructed to monitor the disturbance and prepare incident reports. 

By early evening, the warden returned to the facility and spoke with detainees, seemingly downplaying the severity of the situation.

At 6:30 p.m., ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) advised GEO to activate its response team and take control if necessary. 

But in a shocking move, the warden ordered the GEO team not to intervene, claiming the detainees were “under control.” 

Minutes later, ERO’s Special Response Team from New York arrived on site to assist. By 7 p.m., officers noticed bedsheets hanging over the outer perimeter gate—an unmistakable sign of escape.

At 7:30 p.m., four detainees were confirmed to have escaped by breaking through a wall, sliding open a faulty inner gate in the recreation yard, and scaling the outer barbed-wire fence using bedsheets. 

To make matters worse, ICE records reveal that the GEO security system had previously failed to alert staff about breaches. 

There were no exterior officers stationed at the gate, and no GEO officer inside the unit raised alarms during the escape attempt. 

This glaring negligence allowed criminal aliens to exploit weaknesses and flee federal custody.

The individuals involved were not harmless border crossers. 

Records show they included violent offenders charged with aggravated assault, burglary, and weapons possession. 

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Some had previously been deported and illegally re-entered the country. Others were awaiting hearings for serious felonies. 

Under Democrat-backed sanctuary policies, these individuals were housed in New Jersey facilities instead of being deported immediately—placing American communities at risk.

The fallout from the escape highlighted even deeper failures. 

GEO staff admitted that meal service had been delayed four hours because of confusion over detainee counts. 

The detainee roster was inaccurate, forcing ICE to conduct face-to-face checks just to confirm who remained in custody. 

These errors underline an unacceptable lack of accountability in facilities overseen by Democrat-aligned contractors and officials.

Republicans have long warned that sanctuary policies and weak border enforcement would lead to public safety disasters. 

This Newark incident proves the warnings were justified. 

Criminal aliens, emboldened by leniency and Democrat opposition to strict enforcement, are exploiting every weakness in the system—from the border to detention centers.

The American people deserve better. 

Instead of shielding violent offenders and tying the hands of ICE officers, Democrats should be focused on securing detention facilities and deporting criminal aliens swiftly.

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Gregory Lyakhov is the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the United States. He contributes regularly to dozens of major publications and is a leading advocate for school choice and education reform. He hosts the podcast Brief America with Gregory Lyakhov. Follow: X @GregoryLyakhov | Instagram @realgregorylyakhov

You can email Gregory Lyakhov here, and read more of Gregory Lyakhov's articles here.

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