Rust-colored letters stand out against the drab gray building, in the heart of a bleak industrial zone. Delaney Hall was once Newark's reintegration center, but the facility has taken on a new role. It now serves as the emblem of the hardline immigration policy implemented by Donald Trump since his return to office in January. Detainees now leave Delaney Hall only by plane, and only to be deported.

From the building's edge, the spire of One World Trade Center is just visible between two fuel depots. New York City is nearby, but it feels worlds away. The complex is situated in Newark's so-called "chemical corridor," where the air ranges from unpleasant to noxious depending on the day. Former detainees often avoided going outside for recreation. New arrivals, meanwhile, are rarely seen.

This is Delaney Hall's best-kept secret: Who are the people imprisoned here, and what are their backgrounds? The 1,100-bed prison, which reopened on May 1, is set to become the largest facility on the entire East Coast for processing undocumented immigrants facing deportation. The Trump administration signed a nearly $1 billion, 15-year contract with GEO Group, a private company specializing in prison management.

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