Under President Donald Trump, the first large-scale immigrant detention center of his second administration opened at Delaney Hall in Newark.
The administration transformed the cavernous, 1,000-bed facility — which had stood vacant for two years — into a stage where protesters clashed with federal officers. A New Jersey congresswoman trying to inspect the facility was charged with assault and hungry detainees rioted — allowing four to temporarily escape through a makeshift drywall perimeter. The events focused national attention on a system hard-pressed by the White House to move fast, but ill-prepared to handle the both the logistics, and the politics.
That included the criminal case against U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-10th) who was charged after her inspection at the site and the brief, tumultuous tenure of Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, who ordered McIver’s arrest. The courts ruled Habba’s appointment unlawful, and she resigned in December.
Another political flashpoint was inside state government.
Political pressure and citizen outrage abruptly ended a last-minute legislative effort to defang a highly-praised NJ public watchdog, the State Comptroller. That job’s currently held in acting capacity by Kevin Walsh — and he decided to fight the controversial bill during an explosive committee hearing Dec. 2. Walsh said the measure — sponsored by Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) — would have limited the comptroller’s subpoena power and ability to investigate fraud, waste and corruption.
During the hearing, U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and state Attorney General Matt Platkin joined Walsh to oppose the bill. All three traded barbs with Committee Chair Sen. Jim Beach (D-Camden) who made them wait hours, to testify last. Beach tried to cut Kim off after three minutes. Kim replied, “I am missing votes at the Capitol. Give me 30 seconds!” Beach shot back, “Why, do you think you’re special? You’re not!” The standing-room-only crowd shouted in disapproval. Scutari later pulled the bill.
Here’s a look at these stories and other political flashpoints this year:
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