New Jersey Weekly: Feb. 13, 2026

TOP NEWS

North N.J. Democratic Socialists of America seeks monetary donations to support Muslim people detained at Newark’s immigrant detention center, Delaney Hall. Funds will support people who are cannot access designated prayer spaces for Salat, Halal meals and other food accommodations, and essential items for worship. Donations accepted online until Feb. 15 and must include a caption stating “Ramadan at Delaney.”
North NJ Democratic Socialists of America

Queer and trans people can attend Garden State Equality’s resource webinar on Feb. 13. It begins at 6 p.m. and will discuss legal assistance, social services, and emergency preparedness. Free admission. Registration is required. Add to 📅.
Garden State Equality

People detained at Newark’s immigration detention center, Delaney Hall, say they are self-deporting because judges are denying their cases despite having legal reasons to be in the U.S., according to a letter sent to advocacy groups. The five-page letter, titled “Our Cry,” was written by 25 detainees and marks the first joint statement from people inside Delaney Hall, the largest immigration jail on the East Coast. In the letter, they wrote that they are self-deporting because prosecutors are seeking to deport people to countries with violent conditions or political turmoil. The letter explains that detainees were escaping dangerous conditions when entering the U.S., and that they attended mandatory check-ins with immigration officials, obtained work permits, and filed taxes. They wrote that they are self-deporting because prosecutors are seeking to deport people to countries with violent conditions or political turmoil. The letter is available online for viewing. They say they are attending court hearings without proper legal representation, and some were arrested at scheduled immigration appointments, court hearings, and immigration offices. The letter is available online for viewing.
New Jersey Monitor

People can attend an online hotline training with First Friends of NJ-NY on Feb. 16 to support immigrants in detention. It begins at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required and available online. Add to 📅.
First Friends of NJ-NY

Analilia Mejia won the special Democratic primary election for N.J.’s 11th congressional district, according to unofficial results from the Essex County clerk’s office. Mejia and former Rep. Tom Malinowski were nearly tied with Malinowski trailing behind by just under 900 votes. On Feb. 10, Malinowski conceded. Mejia’s name will appear on the Apr. 16 special general election ballot against Republican candidate Joe Hathaway, who ran unopposed in the Republican special primary. The winner of the election will represent parts of Morris, Essex, and Passaic counties.
Montclair Local

New Jersey college students and faculty at Rowan, Rutgers, and Princeton recently protested against immigration detention with some student organizations creating petitions urging university officials to refuse cooperation with federal immigration officials. Rowan students and faculty protested on Feb. 5 demanding university officials to bar federal immigration authorities from entering campus. It comes after U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection officials participated in an on-campus recruitment event. Student groups Rowan Students for Justice in Palestine and Rowan Young Democratic Socialists of America published an online petition outlining their demands, which has received more than 3,000 signatures. On Jan. 30, students at Rutgers and Princeton also protested against immigration deportation and detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. In October, Rutgers Young Democratic Socialists of America published a petition urging university officials to refuse cooperation with ICE and to protect rights to protest among students and faculty, as well as other demands. Both petitions are available online for viewing.
NJ Spotlight News