New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has announced that the state will fully fund the Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI), a programme designed to provide legal representation for residents facing immigration detention and removal proceedings.
Under the proposed state budget agreement reached with legislative leaders, the initiative will receive $20.2 million in funding, marking a significant state-level investment in immigration legal services.
The funding announcement comes as demonstrations and strike activity continue inside Delaney Hall in Newark, where detainees have reportedly been participating in a hunger and labour strike for a second consecutive week. Advocacy organisation Make the Road New Jersey said more than 300 detainees are involved in protests concerning detention conditions and due process concerns.
The DDDI programme provides legal assistance to individuals held in immigration detention who may otherwise struggle to secure representation during removal proceedings. Immigration advocates and civil rights groups have argued that access to legal counsel can substantially affect outcomes in immigration court cases.
Make the Road New Jersey, an immigrant advocacy organisation operating across the state, welcomed the funding decision and said it reflected growing support among elected officials for expanded legal protections for detainees.
In a statement following the announcement, Nedia Morsy, Director of Make the Road New Jersey, said:
“Until we abolish ICE and free everyone from Delaney Hall, providing access to a lawyer is the best way to get people out of detention centers. This is one of the strongest investments a state can make to defend people’s rights under a fascist regime.
“We are encouraged to see movement from New Jersey’s elected officials at every level. Members of Congress are visiting Delaney Hall regularly, the state and city of Newark are suing Delaney Hall and GEO Group, and now we’re going to make sure every person in detention has a lawyer in their corner. Together, these actions are an example of how all states should work to dismantle the lawless deportation machine.
“None of this happens without the courage of the hunger and labor strikers inside Delaney Hall and everyone fighting alongside them outside. All of us – elected officials, protestors, faith leaders, and allies — have a collective responsibility to use every tool at our disposal to free them all.
“Now we have to keep building on this progress to keep everyone safe from rogue immigration agents. That starts with further expanding legal representation for unaccompanied minors so they can defend themselves against ICE’s deportation efforts. The state should also fully divest from ICE contractors like Palantir who profit from people’s suffering.”
The funding decision highlights the ongoing political debate surrounding immigration enforcement policies and detention practices at both state and federal levels. Several Democratic-led states and municipalities across the United States have increased investment in legal defence programmes for migrants and asylum seekers in recent years, arguing that legal representation is essential to ensuring fair court proceedings.
New Jersey lawmakers supporting the programme have stated that the funding is intended to provide legal resources for residents facing complex immigration proceedings. Supporters also argue that representation can improve efficiency within the legal system by helping detainees better understand court requirements and procedures.
Meanwhile, Delaney Hall has remained a focal point for immigration advocacy groups and public officials in recent weeks. Activists have continued to organise demonstrations outside the facility while calling for broader reforms to detention practices and expanded protections for migrants.
The announcement also comes amid wider national scrutiny of immigration detention operations and the role of private contractors involved in detention facility management and immigration technology services. Advocacy groups have increasingly called for stronger oversight, additional legal safeguards, and greater transparency regarding detention conditions.
Governor Sherrill’s administration has not yet released further operational details regarding the rollout of the expanded DDDI funding, including implementation timelines or the projected number of detainees expected to receive legal assistance under the programme.
Immigration advocates described the commitment as a major expansion of state-backed legal defence services and said it could encourage other states to consider similar initiatives.
