The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), ICNA Council for Social Justice (ICNA CSJ), and Justice For All today announced that they have donated hundreds of essential religious items to Muslims detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Delaney Hall in Newark to support their observance of the sacred month of Ramadan.
Delaney Hall is one of the largest ICE detention facilities in the northeastern United States, with a 1,000-bed capacity. The donated items include copies of the Qur’an in its original Arabic and translation in several languages, prayer mats, prayer beads, hijabs, kufis, other religious, educational books, and dates for breaking the fast according to tradition, to help detainees maintain the practice of their faith while in detention. The facility has also recently purchased some copies of the Qur’an.
SEE:Photos of the delivery on 3/1/2026
Former detainees, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal, reported to CAIR-NJ difficulty in practicing their faith, along with ongoing problems caused by disorganization generally at the facility.
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Operations Director Dyaa Terpstra said:
“Every individual, regardless of their immigration status, retains the right to practice their faith with dignity. By providing these religious items, we hope to ease the hardship on Muslim detainees during Ramadan and ensure they are able to observe this sacred month in a meaningful way. I thank the facility’s chaplain for his cooperation and understanding.”
“These Qur’ans and other religious items are not symbolic gestures — they are essential for Muslims to fulfill their daily religious obligations. For Muslims, faith is not separate from daily life; it is central to it. Our faith is not put on pause for anything. The ability to pray, read the Qur’an, and observe Ramadan are fundamental to one’s existence as a Muslim. Especially in detention, access to these items offers comfort, resilience, and spiritual strength during a time of difficulty and uncertainty. Previously, detainees could only obtain a copy of the Qur’an if a cleared visitor brought one specifically for them. For many — particularly those transferred across the country and separated from family — that meant no access at all.”
Partner organizations echoed the call for humane treatment and full religious accommodations for all detained individuals.
In a statement, ICNA CSJ New Jersey Director Jim Sues said:
“Humane treatment must include full and meaningful religious accommodation. That means access to meals at the right times, the ability to pray properly and consistently, and the timely distribution of essential religious materials. Respecting the faith of detained individuals is not optional — it is a basic standard of dignity and rights.“
In a statement, Justice For All Director of United Nations Operations Imam Saffet Catovic Said:
“Under the First Amendment and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), people held in government custody — including immigration detention — are entitled to practice their faith unless restrictions meet the highest legal standard. International standards, including the United Nations’ Nelson Mandela Rules, likewise require respect for the religious beliefs and observances of all detained persons. There are Muslims held in Delaney Hall, and they are not forgotten.”
EyesOnICE volunteers helped carry boxes and the items were received by the facility chaplain. Representatives of CAIR-NJ and ICNA accompanied the items into the facility for security screening, storage, and prompt distribution. The partnering organizations also announced unprecedented religious accommodations for Muslim detainees at Delaney Hall. For the first time, the facility has begun facilitating weekly Jumu’ah (Friday) congregational prayer services and coordinating meal distribution to accommodate the pre-dawn (suhoor) and sunset (iftar) times for fasting during Ramadan.
The partnering organizations regularly engage with companies, schools, and correctional facilities to secure appropriate religious accommodations for Muslim faith-based practices. They further pushed for recognition of Eid ul-Fitr, including the facilitation of Eid prayer and a special meal to honor the holiday marking the conclusion of the month of fasting.
CAIR-NJ, ICNA CSJ, and Justice For All will continue to work with the chaplaincy and programs staff at Delaney Hall to advocate for the protection of civil and religious rights for all detainees, and have identified Muslims to apply to be religious volunteers. These applications are subject to screening and approval by ICE.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
The Council for Social Justice, a project of The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), is a social justice/human rights organization that strives to systematically facilitate the human struggle for the rights of the poor and oppressed in the United States. See: icnacsj.org.
Justice For All promotes policies that protect religious freedom, address the root causes of mass displacement, and recognizes the plight of refugees and forced migrants.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Operations Director Dyaa Terpstra, dterpstra@cair.com, ICNA CSJ NJ Director Jim Sues, jimsues@icnanj.org, Justice For All Director of United Nations Operations Imam Saffet Catovic, saffet@justiceforall.org