NJ Spotlight News
NJ Democrats in Washington renew push to end private ICE detention
Clip: 1/23/2026 | 1m 53sVideo has Closed Captions
‘A moral abomination in our country,’ Booker says
Immigration legislation sponsored by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) would eliminate privately operated detention centers and make major changes at such government-run facilities.
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NJ Spotlight News is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS
NJ Spotlight News
NJ Democrats in Washington renew push to end private ICE detention
Clip: 1/23/2026 | 1m 53sVideo has Closed Captions
Immigration legislation sponsored by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) would eliminate privately operated detention centers and make major changes at such government-run facilities.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipAs tensions remain high over federal immigration enforcement, U.S.
Senator Cory Booker on Friday said he's reintroducing legislation aimed at reforming detention centers.
The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act would phase out the use of private detention facilities, including ones like Delaney Hall, which Booker toured on Friday, and the Elizabeth Detention Center.
It would also end mandatory detention and solitary confinement for immigrant detainees and require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct regular unannounced inspections of detention centers.
Representatives McIver and Menendez are sponsoring companion legislation in the House.
The announcement comes just after all but seven Democrats in the House voted Thursday to block federal funding for DHS, including $10 billion for ICE.
That move was in protest against ICE tactics in cities like Minneapolis.
The bill does include, though, some reforms, including a requirement that ICE agents wear body cameras, though many on the left say more reform is needed, while others still are calling to abolish ICE altogether.
Lawmakers Friday condemned conditions at the private detention center.
Right now in our country that we begin standing up to end what I believe is a moral abomination in our country.
Through this bill that I am reintroducing, we can end the unjust profit-making scheme of for-profit detention centers like the one behind me by banning them.
We can end mandatory detentions of our immigrant neighbors.
We can end the separation of detained families.
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NJ among Democratic states targeted by Trump federal funding review
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Clip: 1/23/2026 | 1m 18s | 'Political retribution’ for 14 states, Sherrill says (1m 18s)
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