While Governor MIkie Sherrill has directed Attorney General Rachel Davenport to conduct a civil rights investigation into Delaney Hall, we do not believe that this is the full extent of what she can do to ensure the rights of those being detained. The deaths of Jean Wilson Brutus, Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, and Jose Chajon-Raxon in Delaney Hall were caused by medical neglect and could have been avoided had care been provided to them. This medical neglect crisis is the purview of the Department of Health and therefore demands action by the State.

We demand that the Governor enforce the Health Department's right to investigate conditions inside Delaney Hall.

Specifically, this means:

- a full inspection of every portion of the facility and all infrastructure that is necessary for the safety of the detainees, such as HVAC and plumbing, and all sanitation procedures

- review of the healthcare provided, or lack thereof, including the credentials of those providing healthcare

- meetings with every detainee to learn first-hand of the living conditions, including working conditions, compensation, allegations of assaults, the healthcare they receive or do not receive, and to evaluate their overall health.

Further, we demand that the Governor take the opportunity to meet with the detainees, per the demands of the hunger strikers who sacrificed their well-being to raise the alarm about the conditions they were facing.

Following the inspection and meetings with detainees, the Department of Health must produce a public report on the investigation, and the Governor should hold a public press conference to ensure that her constituents know the truth of conditions within Delaney Hall.

Most importantly, once the health of all detainees has been investigated, it will be clear which detainees' health conditions are most dire, and the release of those detainees must be secured. All detainees must be provided with legal representation, and the detainees most at risk must be prioritized.

Finally, following the steps described above, the Governor must pursue all possible channels to close Delaney Hall and the other immigrant detention facilities within the state. The Governor should keep the people of New Jersey aware of how this plan will be carried out.

By directing the Attorney General to complete a civil rights investigation, the Governor has delegated action on a crisis that demands action on her part. It has not been made clear that this investigation addresses the health code concerns outlined above nor does it show the kind of accountability and personal involvement expected from the Governor.