1. Direct Links & Contact Information
Complaint Portal (NJ Board of Medical Examiners): njconsumeraffairs.gov/bme
Christopher L. Peterson (Acting Director, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs):
Email: dcapress@dca.njoag.gov
Phone: 973-504-6200
Antonia Winstead (Executive Director, NJ Board of Medical Examiners):
Email: bme@dca.lps.state.nj.gov
Phone: 609-826-7100
New Jersey State Legislature Roster: njleg.state.nj.us (To contact state senators regarding Peterson’s confirmation).
2. Guide to Filing a Medical Complaint in New Jersey
You do not need to know the medical practitioner’s exact name to move forward and submit a complaint.
Navigate to the complaint portal at njconsumeraffairs.gov/bme.
Select the checkbox labeled “Against a Licensed Professional or to Report Unlicensed Activity”.
Click into the dropdown box, scroll through the alphabetical list, and select “Medical Examiners”.
Click on the link for the “Medical Examiners” complaint form.
Choose to fill out the form in either English or Spanish.
Enter your personal consumer information into the required fields.
In the “Complaint Reported Against” section, provide as much descriptive detail as possible about the medical practitioner who caused harm or neglected the detainee.
Include information about any witnesses, which can consist of other staff, fellow detainees, or family members.
Upload any relevant supporting documents you have (this step is optional but helpful).
3. Additional Advocacy Steps
Contact State Leadership: Reach out to Acting Director Christopher L. Peterson and Executive Director Antonia Winstead. Express support for them investigating these cases, and ask if they can provide the names of the unnamed staff or assist with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Remember to remain professional and polite to keep the dialogue open.
Leverage the Confirmation Process: Christopher L. Peterson is currently an Acting Director and will be seeking official confirmation. Contact New Jersey state senators and ask them to question Peterson’s commitment to pursuing justice against negligent practitioners at detention sites like Delaney Hall before they confirm his appointment.
4. Official Email Template
Instructions: Copy and paste the text below. Fill in the bracketed information before sending. You can send this to both the DCA (dcapress@dca.njoag.gov) and the BME (bme@dca.lps.state.nj.gov).
Subject: Urgent Support Request: Medical Accountability at Delaney Hall ICE Facility
Dear [Acting Director Peterson / Executive Director Winstead],
I am writing to you today as a concerned citizen to urge the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and the Board of Medical Examiners to take immediate action regarding the ongoing medical crises and fatalities occurring at the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark.
Recent reports highlight a deeply concerning pattern of severe medical neglect by practitioners operating inside this GEO Group facility. Detainees experiencing fatal medical emergencies are allegedly being denied adequate care and are instead subjected to hasty “discretionary releases” by ICE right before they pass away. This bureaucratic maneuver obscures the true number of fatalities and shields the facility’s medical staff from necessary oversight and accountability.
The public fully supports your offices in taking a strong stance to protect these vulnerable individuals. We are asking for your help and leadership in the following ways:
Investigation: Please commit to aggressively investigating all anonymous and named complaints filed against medical practitioners at Delaney Hall and similar detention sites in New Jersey.
Transparency Assistance: Advocacy groups and victims’ families are struggling to identify the specific medical staff involved in these fatalities. We respectfully ask for your office’s assistance in identifying these unnamed practitioners and helping the public facilitate targeted FOIA requests to uncover the truth.
New Jersey cannot allow medical professionals to operate with impunity while under state licensure, regardless of the immigration status of their patients. We are looking to your leadership to ensure that predators and negligent practitioners are brought to justice.
Thank you for your time, your service to the public, and your prompt attention to this humanitarian crisis.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, State]
[Your Phone Number/Email]
