Federal Judge Upholds New Jersey Detention Center Despite Ban on Immigrant Detention Contracts

A federal judge in New Jersey has declared a state law banning the renewal of a private immigration detention contract with federal authorities as "unconstitutional." The ruling allows the state's last detention center, run by private corrections company CoreCivic, to remain open. The law, signed by Governor Phil Murphy in 2021, aimed to prohibit new and extended immigrant detention contracts. The judge's decision puts Murphy at odds with the Biden administration, which argued that the law would have negative consequences for federal immigration authorities. The closure of the facility could result in logistical issues and the possible release of certain detainees, according to federal officials.