1NEWARK, N.J. – Gov. Phil Murphy sharply criticized federal immigration detention practices during a live radio appearance, calling the system “the whole thing sucks” and arguing that federal authorities are increasingly targeting immigrants with no criminal record.

Responding to a caller describing poor conditions for visitors at Delaney Hall — a privately run immigration detention facility in Newark — Murphy said his administration had “sued like heck” to block the use of private detention centers in New Jersey but had not prevailed in court.

“The whole thing sucks — to use a diplomatic word,” Murphy said. “We’ve sued like heck to try to prevent these things from going into private hands, and unfortunately, so far, we have not prevailed.”

Murphy cited federal data showing that the nu

See Full Page