NJ Spotlight News
Former Union County jail up for sale, drawing questions
Clip: 3/28/2025 | 1m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
Community members are worried the jail will be converted to an ICE detention center
Fears are mounting that a new immigration detention center could be built in New Jersey after Union County Commissioners voted Thursday night to take a step toward selling the county jail, which has been vacant for the past four years.
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NJ Spotlight News is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS
NJ Spotlight News
Former Union County jail up for sale, drawing questions
Clip: 3/28/2025 | 1m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
Fears are mounting that a new immigration detention center could be built in New Jersey after Union County Commissioners voted Thursday night to take a step toward selling the county jail, which has been vacant for the past four years.
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipThere are growing concerns that another immigration detention center will open in New Jersey after Union County commissioners Thursday night voted to take a step toward selling the county jail that's been shuttered for the last four years.
Residents and immigrant rights groups jammed into the meeting, which broke tens at times sharing their fears that the building would be sold to a private company and turned into another 1000 bed ice detention center.
Advocates urged commissioners to pledge that wouldn't happen as the Trump administration looks to ramp up deportations and needs more places to house migrants.
County officials gave lengthy explanations for their votes, which landed at 6 to 3 and explained This step allows them to accept requests for proposals so they know how much the property is worth, with hopes they'll get bids from buyers who want to use the facility for a range of industries things like college classes or mental health offices.
Promising the RFP will include clear parameters for the old jail's use, though it's unclear exactly what those are.
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