Concerns grow over conditions at ICE facility in New Jersey

Delaney Hall in Newark became a flashpoint in tensions over President Trump’s immigration agenda after allegations of poor conditions and a hunger strike. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill was denied entry when she tried visiting with state lawmakers, leading to media attention. Protesters gathered outside the facility after reports that guards were trying to move a detainee involved in an ongoing hunger strike. Roughly 300 detainees reportedly began a hunger strike over subpar living conditions. Lawyers alleged detainees received expired food and lacked medical care, while the Department of Homeland Security denied the allegations and accused New Jersey politicians of spreading smears. Democratic members of Congress toured the center, said detainees were refusing to eat, and vowed to shut the facility down.

"Protesters gathered outside the facility on Friday after word spread that guards were trying to move a detainee involved in an ongoing hunger strike inside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Roughly 300 detainees are reported to have launched a hunger strike last weekend at Delaney Hall over subpar living conditions, according to the New Jersey Monitor. Lawyers representing some of the detainees told media outlets that detainees were given expired food and did not have access to medical care."

"The Department of Homeland Security has denied allegations of poor conditions inside the facility and accused New Jersey politicians of "spreading smears" about ICE. ICE agents clash with protesters outside Delaney Hall on May 26Image: Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu/picture alliance Lawmakers visit detention center as unrest continues"

"Adriano Espaillat, a member of the US House of Representatives and Manhattan Democrat, said Wednesday after touring Delaney Hall that detainees were refusing to eat over what he described as "inhumane" conditions. "We will shut this center down. We will shut it down," he vowed after the roughly hourlong visit. US Congresspeople Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman, also Manhattan Democrats, later spoke with protesters and family members of detainees demonstrating outside the facility's security gate."

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