You’re probably searching for the Fernando Mejia Detention Center NJ because someone you know just disappeared into the system. It’s a terrifying moment. One minute you’re talking to a family member, and the next, they’re being processed through a facility that sounds more like a warehouse than a legal office.
Honestly, the name itself causes a lot of confusion.
Technically, there isn't a standalone building with "Fernando Mejia" on a giant neon sign in the middle of Newark or Elizabeth. When people talk about this "center," they are usually referring to the Elizabeth Detention Center, which is managed by CoreCivic under contract for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The name Fernando Mejia is deeply tied to legal precedents and specific advocacy cases involving the rights of detainees in New Jersey.
It’s complicated. Navigating the New Jersey immigration detention landscape feels like trying to read a map in a different language while someone is yelling at you.
Where is the Fernando Mejia Detention Center NJ actually located?
If you are looking for the physical site to drop off money or try to get a visit, you’re headed to 625 Evans Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201.
Don’t expect a warm welcome. The facility is tucked away in an industrial area near the Port of Newark and Newark Liberty International Airport. It’s surrounded by shipping containers and gray asphalt. If you miss the turn, you’ll find yourself looping around airport cargo terminals for twenty minutes.
The Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility (ECDF) has been the subject of massive legal battles for years. In fact, New Jersey passed legislation to phase out private detention contracts, but a federal judge recently ruled that the Elizabeth facility could stay open. This flip-flopping legal status is why searching for the Fernando Mejia Detention Center NJ brings up so much conflicting information.
People are stressed. They are looking for answers.
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Why the name "Fernando Mejia" matters in this context
The name Fernando Mejia is often associated with the push for better conditions and the "Mejia-Mejia" legal discussions regarding bond and detention duration. In the world of NJ immigration law, these names become shorthand for the struggle against indefinite holding.
Detention isn't supposed to be a black hole.
However, for many held at the facility on Evans Street, it feels exactly like that. The facility is a "contract" site, meaning it’s run by a private corporation. This has been a point of massive friction between the State of New Jersey and the Federal Government. The state tried to shut it down. The feds said, "No, we need this for interstate commerce and federal mandate."
The result? The facility remains one of the most active hubs for ICE in the Northeast.
What it’s like inside for a detainee
Imagine a room with no windows to the outside world. Just fluorescent lights. That is the reality for most people inside the Elizabeth facility. Unlike some county jails that ICE uses, Elizabeth is a converted warehouse. There is no "yard" in the traditional sense. Exercise often happens in indoor rooms with high ceilings and some mesh to let in "outside" air.
It’s loud. It’s cold.
Food is another common complaint cited in reports by advocacy groups like Human Rights First and American Friends Service Committee. We are talking about basic caloric intake, not nutrition. If you’re trying to help someone inside, the best thing you can do is ensure they have money on their commissary account so they can buy extra socks or snacks that actually have some flavor.
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Legal rights and the "Mejia" precedent
When we talk about the Fernando Mejia Detention Center NJ, we are really talking about the right to a bond hearing. Under various rulings, including those influenced by advocates working on Mejia-related cases, detainees have specific windows where they must be seen by a judge.
You can't just be held forever. Well, you're not supposed to be.
- The 48-Hour Rule: ICE generally has 48 hours to decide whether to keep someone in custody or release them on bond/recognizance.
- The Notice to Appear (NTA): This is the golden ticket—or the nightmare ticket. It explains why the government thinks you should be deported.
- Bond Hearings: If you are held at the Elizabeth facility, your case will likely be heard by an immigration judge at the Newark Immigration Court or via video link.
The lawyers who work these cases—folks from the Legal Aid Society or Make the Road New Jersey—are often stretched thin. If you have the means, hiring a private attorney who specializes in the "Newark Docket" is usually the fastest way to get movement on a case.
How to find someone in the system
Don't panic if they aren't showing up in the ICE Online Detainee Locator System right away. It takes time. Sometimes 24 to 48 hours.
To search, you need:
- The A-Number (Alien Registration Number). This is a 9-digit number starting with the letter A.
- If you don’t have that, you need their exactly-as-spelled name and country of birth.
If they are at the facility often called the Fernando Mejia Detention Center NJ, they will be listed under "Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility."
The battle over "Private" detention in New Jersey
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a law in 2021 that was supposed to end the state's involvement in ICE detention. It was a huge deal. Activists cheered. People thought the Elizabeth facility would close its doors for good.
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Then CoreCivic sued.
They argued that a state can't tell the federal government where to put its prisoners. In late 2023 and into 2024, the courts basically sided with the corporation. This is why the facility is still there. It’s a weird legal limbo where the state says "We don't want you," and the feds say "We don't care."
This tension affects the people inside. Staffing levels fluctuate. Moral among detainees drops when they see news about a potential closure that never happens. It creates an environment of permanent uncertainty.
Contacting the facility
If you need to reach the Elizabeth facility (the place most people mean when they say Fernando Mejia center), here are the hard facts:
- Phone: (908) 352-3210
- Mailing Address: 625 Evans Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
- Sending Money: Usually handled through Western Union or the CoreCivic website (be prepared for fees).
Keep your calls brief. Don't discuss the legal case over the phone. Everything is recorded. Everything. If you say something that sounds like an admission of guilt or a "plan," the government will use it against you in court. Seriously.
Practical next steps for families
If your loved one is currently at the Fernando Mejia Detention Center NJ, stop spiraling and start organizing. Documentation wins cases.
- Gather the Paperwork: You need birth certificates, tax returns, and proof of "good moral character" (letters from bosses, churches, or neighbors).
- Check the A-Number: Look for it on any paperwork the person had on them when they were picked up. It's the key to everything.
- Don't Pay "Scammers": If someone calls you claiming they can get your relative out for $5,000 via a wire transfer or gift cards, hang up. Those are vultures who prey on the families of the detained.
- Find a Pro Bono Attorney: If you can't afford a lawyer, contact the NJ Volunteer Lawyers for Justice. They can at least point you toward the right forms.
The system is designed to be confusing. It's designed to make you feel small. But knowing that the Fernando Mejia Detention Center NJ is essentially the Elizabeth Contract Facility is the first step in actually navigating the maze.
Get your documents in order. Stay on top of the court dates. Be persistent. The Newark immigration docket moves slowly, but it does move.
Actionable Insight: Immediately verify the detainee's status using the ICE Locator tool with their A-Number. Once confirmed at Elizabeth, contact the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Newark office to see if they have a "Legal Orientation Program" packet available for that specific week. This can give the person inside a roadmap of what to expect in their first hearing.