Coordinated by Sherrill and Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha, RLRI focuses on recruiting volunteer attorneys, expanding emergency legal support capacity for detention and deportation matters and coordinating rapid legal response efforts statewide. Sherrill said<\/a> the initiative is intended to connect experienced federal litigators and volunteer attorneys with immigration practitioners to strengthen New Jersey\u2019s legal response capacity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n Gov. Mikie Sherrill speaks to families outside of Delaney Hall in Newark on May 25 | Photo via Mikie Sherrill’s Instagram\n <\/p>\n Alongside the launch of RLRI, Sherrill and leaders in the New Jersey legislature announced a $12 million increase in funding for DDDI, raising the program\u2019s total funding to $20.2 million. DDDI, in partnership with Seton Hall Law School<\/a>, provides free legal counsel and representation to income-eligible New Jersey residents who are at risk of or are currently facing deportation proceedings and do not have access to legal representation.\u00a0<\/p>\n With immigrant communities facing what Sherrill referred<\/a> to as an \u201cunprecedented surge\u201d in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention operations, Sherrill said these actions will double<\/a> the availability of legal services and provide attorneys to low-income individuals facing deportation, including detainees held at Delaney Hall.<\/p>\n Since reopening in May 2025, detainees at Delaney Hall have raised concerns about alleged poor living conditions<\/a> through hunger and labor strikes. The facility has faced multiple controversies since then, including arrests<\/a> of protestors, federal charges against Newark\u2019s mayor<\/a> and a U.S. congresswoman<\/a>, and the death of a detainee in federal custody<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n As activists continue to raise concern<\/a>s about detainee safety, Sherrill said the new measures will provide detainees with resources to help defend their rights.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the Trump Administration makes it more difficult for members of our community to challenge detention and deportation, access to qualified legal representation has never been more important,\u201d Sherrill said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cHere in New Jersey, we are helping ensure more New Jersey residents receive due process under the law and more New Jersey attorneys are mobilized to stand up for the fundamental human rights of detainees and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"IMG_1896.jpg\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1102c2d0-712c-40cb-80fe-1d02cbbd6bcc.sized-1000x1000.jpg\")
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