Reports have emerged from the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in New Jersey, detailing allegations of medical neglect, retaliation, and poor living conditions. These claims come despite ICE officials publicly denying that a hunger strike is underway at the site.
Allegations from Inside
A recently released detainee and the wife of a man currently held at Delaney Hall have provided insights into the situation. A Colombian man, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, reported living in “traumatic” conditions. He described being detained for nearly a month in April, where he faced accusations of aggression towards a guard, later being allegedly assaulted. He experienced inadequate medical care, stating he dealt with diarrhea for over two weeks without receiving treatment. He also witnessed detainees with serious health issues going untreated, including one man with dangerously high blood pressure.
The wife of another detainee, held for nearly four months, echoed similar concerns. She mentioned her husband contracted the flu multiple times, experiencing delays in receiving medical care, often only being given Tylenol. She also described food as “mostly frozen and processed,” and noted issues with sanitation, including shortages of toilet paper.
Retaliation and Hunger Strikes
“Many people are holding out,” she stated, contradicting ICE’s denials of a hunger strike. She claimed detainees were pressured to leave their units to help officials deny the existence of an organized protest.
Her account, along with advocacy reports, states that over 200 detainees have been involved in hunger and labor strikes since mid-May, motivated by concerns over food quality, medical care, and sanitation. Outside the facility, protests have intensified, with confrontations between demonstrators and federal agents, who allegedly used forceful measures such as pepper balls and tear gas.
Official Responses and Denials
Lawmakers have visited Delaney Hall, describing conditions there as “inhumane.” New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill was denied access during a recent visit attempt.
Scott Mechkowski, a former ICE official, described the alleged conditions and hunger strikes as fabricated, branding them as politically motivated actions by New Jersey politicians.
Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), defended the facility’s operations in an email to Newsweek. She refuted claims of a hunger strike and medical neglect, asserting that detainees receive adequate care, food, and amenities.
Broader Context of Hunger Strikes
Delaney Hall is not alone in facing accusations of poor conditions. Nationwide, hunger strikes have been reported at various ICE facilities. At the Adelanto facility in California, detainees reported issues like mold and unsafe water, prompting at least 20 people to refuse food.
The expansion of immigration detention under the Trump administration has allegedly worsened ongoing issues. Advocates report 18 deaths in ICE custody this year, with a total of 49 deaths since early 2025.
Outside Delaney Hall, high-profile protests have included appearances from New Jersey Democrats, who vocalized solidarity with detainees. Detainees and advocates are calling for the release of vulnerable individuals and the closure of facilities like Delaney Hall and Adelanto.
Advocates’ Standpoint
Esmeralda Santos and Kathy O’Leary, activists with coalitions focused on shutting down ICE facilities, highlighted persistent patterns of abuse and neglect reported by detainees. Nanci Palacios Godinez of Detention Watch Network argued that current conditions reflect systemic problems within immigration detention, emphasizing the perceived arbitrariness and abuse in these facilities.
As tensions rise around the Delaney Hall facility, and with contrasting narratives coming from inside and outside, the situation remains volatile. Questions persist about the conditions at the Newark site and the broader implications of immigration detention practices in the U.S.
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