Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced plans to resume operations at the Delaney Hall facility located in Newark, New Jersey. According to the agency, an agreement has been reached with the site's owner to reopen the detention center, providing space that can hold up to 1,000 individuals. This marks the first new detention center opening under the current Trump administration, as explained by acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello.

Vitello emphasized that the strategic location near an international airport improves logistical efficiency and facilitates the rapid processing of detainees. He noted that this step aligns with President Trump's mandate to increase the arrest, detention, and deportation of individuals living illegally in the U.S.

The reopened facility aims to enhance ICE's capacity to handle increased enforcement procedures and deportation activities in the Northeast region. The move comes in the wake of a significant rise in internal ICE arrests, which have considerably exceeded counts from the Biden administration era. Reports indicated that from January 20 to February 8, ICE made 11,791 arrests, a 137 percent increase from the same timeframe in 2024, during Biden's tenure.

Additionally, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported that over 20,000 illegal immigrants were detained within a single month under the current administration. The administration has systematically removed earlier restrictions imposed by Biden officials, such as limits on expedited removal processes and certain parole statuses granted on humanitarian grounds.

The administration has simultaneously pursued diplomatic agreements with other nations to facilitate the return of illegal migrants and urged these countries to enhance their own border control measures. While ICE currently has nearly 42,000 detention beds available nationwide, the agency has been regularly exceeding this capacity, prompting pushes to secure additional detention space.

However, officials have noted logistical delays in rapidly increasing detention capacity. Typically, contractors need around a month to locate suitable facilities, hire and train personnel, and complete necessary security checks and procedural requirements.