A New Jersey nurse says she was attacked by ICE agents outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, part of what the American Civil Liberties Union says are dozens of claims alleging misconduct by federal immigration authorities.
The ACLU says it has filed 54 claims against the federal government on behalf of people who claim they were profiled, unlawfully detained or injured during encounters with federal immigration authorities.
The claims span 17 states and the District of Columbia, including accusations ranging from racial profiling and false arrests to acts of violence and sexual assault in at least one immigration detention center.
An undated photo of the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark. (Image: NBC New York)
Dr. Norma Bowe, a registered nurse and professor of public health at Kean University, said she was operating her mobile health clinic at the ICE detention center in Newark when, she alleges, agents threw her to the ground as she approached a woman who needed help.
“I could have had a brain bleed on that sidewalk,” she told NBC New York.
Bowe says it happened outside Delaney Hall last May, at the onset of violent clashes between ICE and protesters over what members of Congress said was a hunger strike by detainees.
“The next thing I knew, an ICE agent had me by the back of my shirt. There was another ICE agent next to him. They both threw me like a bag of trash and I slammed my head on the sidewalk.”
Immigration attorney Kelley Ortega said the next step is a review process by DHS.
“Department of Homeland Security now has about six months to review these claims and determine whether they believe they are reasonably responsible and owe money to these individuals for these claims.”
In a statement to News 4, the Department of Homeland Security pushed back on the ACLU’s claims.
“When faced with dangerous circumstances, DHS law enforcement used their training to protect themselves, their fellow officers, and the public,” a statement read in part.
“ICE law enforcement officers are trained to use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve dangerous situations to prioritize the safety of the public and our officers.”
Dr. Bowe said that is not what she saw or experienced outside Delaney Hall.
“It isn’t comfortable. I’d rather, you know, play with my granddaughter to be, truth be told. But I feel like this is super-important.”
News 4 reached out to DHS to respond specifically to Bowe’s claims and is waiting to hear back.
If DHS decides it isn’t responsible for any of the claims, the matter would move on to federal court, where a judge would determine whether the department can be liable.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication.