Hi John,

It’s Friday, Morris County. This week, another death connected to Delaney Hall raises troubling questions about medical care and transparency; Tom Kean Jr. says he’s been fighting for Roxbury, but the public record tells a different story; Morris County rallies to help families affected by the earthquake in Colombia; our Democratic legislators get to work in Trenton; and more than 100 young people take to the streets in Summit to challenge Kean over his ties to Big Tech.

Plus, Andy Kim has an opportunity for New Jersey high school students — and because politics isn’t everything, we’ve got a few ways to enjoy a summer weekend right here in Morris County.

Here’s what you need to know.

Another person who was held at Delaney Hall has died. And this time, we almost didn't know about it. José Chajón-Raxón was taken into ICE custody on July 18. One day later, while being processed at Delaney Hall, he suffered seizure-like symptoms and was rushed to the hospital. ICE released him from its custody days later. He subsequently died.

ICE did not publicly disclose his death.

DHS now points to a policy change: once someone is released from ICE custody, the agency says it is no longer responsible for monitoring or reviewing a subsequent death. That reverses a 2021 policy that required review of deaths occurring within 30 days of release.

Senator Andy Kim called the late disclosure an example of ICE trying to avoid responsibility: “ICE cannot simply send a detainee out for medical care and pretend they aren't still on the hook.”

On Tuesday, Congresswoman Analilia Mejia, Congressman Rob Menendez and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries sat down in Morristown with former detainees and families of people who died at Delaney Hall. They heard allegations of medication being withheld or administered incorrectly and requests for medical attention being ignored.

Mejia has vowed to keep fighting until Delaney Hall is closed. Kim has called for its closure. And Governor Mikie Sherrill has said the deaths are exactly why New Jersey is fighting to close Delaney Hall, and why her administration is working to prevent another private detention facility from opening in Roxbury.

When the government takes someone into custody, it assumes responsibility for that person's safety. That responsibility shouldn't disappear because someone suffering a medical emergency is transferred to a hospital and removed from an ICE roster.

Tom Kean Jr. sent Roxbury residents a remarkable email this week claiming that “from the beginning” he has been “fully engaged” and “fighting for the people of Roxbury” over the proposed ICE detention center.

There's just one problem: Roxbury's own Republican leaders have already said that's not what happened.

When the federal government purchased the property in February, Roxbury's all-Republican Township Council publicly called Kean out, saying that despite repeated outreach, their congressman “did not engage to the level we had hoped to provide the advocacy our residents deserved.”

And while Roxbury and the State of New Jersey went to court to try to stop the facility, Kean simply “asked” DHS to take a “deeper look” and find a “workable solution.” He still has not publicly taken a position on whether the detention center should move forward.

The one action he has taken was to introduce legislation to reimburse towns for the costs of hosting federal detention facilities (things like lost property taxes, utility rate hikes, and infrastructure costs).

Roxbury residents don't need an email about how hard Tom Kean Jr. says he's working. Or a bill to offset the financial costs of a detention center they do not want. They need a representative willing to say clearly that this facility does not belong in their community, and who will listen to them and help fight to stop it.

It’s still summer, Morris County. If you need a break from the news, here are a few things happening around the county:

• Sweet Corn & Tomato Festival at Alstede Farms   — It doesn't get much more Jersey in August than corn and tomatoes. Head to Chester this weekend for farm-fresh food, hayrides, pick-your-own produce and summer fun.
• Free Sensory-Friendly Touch-a-Truck in Parsippany   — Fire trucks, police cars, construction vehicles and more. Kids can climb in, look around and honk the horns Saturday from 10 a.m.–noon. The event is designed to be sensory-friendly and welcoming to all.
• NJ Arts Annual at the Morris Museum   — The museum’s grounds have become an open-air gallery featuring work by New Jersey artists. Inside, you can also catch Emblems of America and a collection of original Audubon bird prints.
• Moonlight Swim at Madison Community Pool  — Summer isn't over yet. Madison's final Moonlight Swim is tonight, August 14, with extended evening swimming.

We’ve got plenty of work ahead. Make a little time for fun, too.

In LD25, Assemblywoman Marisa Sweeney has introduced legislation addressing AI consumer protections, young-driver safety, and protections for survivors of domestic violence.

In LD21, Assemblymen Vinnie Kearney and Andrew Macurdy have been working on infrastructure and local road safety, while Macurdy has also introduced legislation taking on two increasingly important New Jersey issues: data-center tax breaks and rising energy costs.

Senator Andy Kim is thrilled to nominate a Senate Page for the Spring 2027 session! This is an opportunity for NJ high school students to live and learn in D.C. and see how the U.S. Senate works.

Since Daniel Webster’s first page appointment in 1829, the U.S. Senate has welcomed young students to the Senate floor to help carry out the day-to-day operations of the Senate.

Pages play a vital role in supporting Senators, including serving as messengers carrying bills, amendments, or documents, preparing the Senate Chambers for daily business, and assisting in the cloakrooms.

Click to Learn more and apply by August 31 at 11:59 PM EST  

Trump administration admits grants for clean energy were canceled based on politics 

The Trump administration has acknowledged that it canceled $7.6 billion in clean-energy grants based solely on the political identity of the states receiving them, including New Jersey. That's on top of the administration's cancellation of a separate $156 million Solar for All grant that would have helped lower-income New Jersey families access solar energy and reduce their energy costs.

🇨🇴 Morris County Steps Up for Colombia

After the devastating earthquake in Colombia, Morris County communities are stepping up to help — especially in Dover, where many residents have family and deep ties to Colombia.

Club Colombia  in Dover is collecting nonperishable food, medicine and first-aid supplies for affected communities. Donations can be dropped off at 11 E. Blackwell Street in Dover

Want to help? Donate supplies locally or contribute directly to organizations providing emergency relief in Colombia.

Dover relief information: DoverNow — How to Help 
Financial donations: Direct Relief — Colombia Earthquake Response 

Tell Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-7) to stop taking money from AI companies and return the $7,000 donation he took from Peter Thiel, the billionaire behind Palantir.  

“There’s a reason why AI companies donate to politicians like Tom Kean. They know that he’ll look the other way while they pollute our neighborhoods and profit at our expense,” said Sunni Vargas, Political Director at the New Jersey Working Families Party. 

Tom Kean has not only taken donations from AI companies but has personally profited from trading more than $90,000 worth of AI stocks while in office. 

Morris County Democratic Committee
11 Washington St
Morristown, NJ 07960
United States

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