New Jersey High School Faces Backlash for Incorrectly Sending Volunteer Invitation to ICE Detention Center

Key Takeaways

• A Belleville High School counselor sent an unauthorized Google Classroom message inviting 11th graders to earn service hours at the Delaney Hall ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention center in Newark.
• School district director Erick Alfonso called it a "serious lapse in judgment," saying the activity was not authorized and that the district does not support the invitation.
• Community members, including immigrant parents and local clergy, say the proposal heightened fear among students — many of whom are children of immigrants — and raised safety and moral concerns given allegations about conditions at the facility.
• It has been reported that the Delaney Hall facility has long faced complaints about poor conditions and human-rights concerns, and there have been allegations of deaths and mistreatment at the center.

What happened

It has been reported that a Belleville High School counselor posted a message on Google Classroom inviting 11th-grade students to volunteer at Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark to earn community service hours. The message reportedly asked, “Looking for service hours? Help us at the ICE detention center,” and explained the volunteer work would involve preparing sandwiches and food for detainees. Erick Alfonso, the Belleville School District superintendent, told the district board on the evening of March 18 that the invitation was unauthorized, not consistent with district agreements, and represented a serious lapse in judgment; the district has since notified parents and said it had addressed the matter at the school level.

Reaction and implications

Parents and local clergy reacted with alarm. Jennifer Delosangeles, a local pastor, questioned bringing minors into a facility she described as abusive and unsanitary and said many students are children of immigrants who were frightened by the idea. It has been reported that Delaney Hall has been criticized over time for poor conditions and alleged human-rights violations, including complaints alleging deaths — charges that have drawn scrutiny from politicians and families. It has also been reported that the counselor in question had a generally positive reputation, but community leaders insist any misconduct requires accountability to align school actions with the district’s stated values and diverse student body.

What this means for immigrants and families now: this incident is unlikely to change immigration rules or visa processing, but it heightens mistrust between immigrant communities and public institutions, potentially chilling school participation and parental engagement. Students and parents should expect clearer district guidance about volunteer placements going forward; would-be volunteers should verify that any work with detention facilities is fully authorized, accompanied, and vetted for safety and legal compliance. Source: Original Article