Recent revenue figures from the Delaney Hall ICE detention center’s commissary might contradict Democratic claims of a “hunger strike” at the Newark facility. During the supposed strike, commissary spending increased significantly.
Several Democrats who visited the facility reported poor conditions and terrible food quality. However, a source knowledgeable about Delaney Hall’s operations refuted these statements. According to the source, the commissary, where detainees can buy snacks and other items, saw its revenue triple during the alleged hunger strike period.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supported this claim by sharing revenue figures with Fox News Digital. These numbers showed that detainees continued purchasing food from the commissary during the supposed hunger strike.
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Regional outlets like Gothamist reported that detainees began a hunger and labor strike around May 23. Shortly after, Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., visited and supported these reports. He was later caught in a confrontation involving pepper spray when demonstrators clashed with ICE agents.
Other lawmakers, including Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-N.J., made similar assertions. However, on Thursday, a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the claims were a “hoax” and corroborated the commissary data supporting the claim that detainees were purchasing large amounts of food.
On May 26, Delaney Hall housed 724 individuals, and its commissary generated $11,498 in revenue for the previous week. As the alleged hunger strike continued, sales increased further.
Despite a 14% reduction in detainee population by June 1, the commissary recorded weekly sales exceeding $30,000. DHS officials suggested that detainees involved in the “strike” were opting for snacks instead of their scheduled meals.
The hunger strike hoax was actually just Delaney Hall detainees trading nutritious meals for Honey Buns and Hot Cheetos,” said Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Bis.
Bis was supported by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who testified that the dispute arose from detainees rejecting meals that did not align with their native cuisine. Mullin also stated that Delaney Hall is not meant to resemble a “Holiday Inn.”
A DHS-provided commissary menu lists numerous items available for purchase, such as lotions, cards, Cheetos, and snacks.
Characterizations of the facility’s conditions have softened recently. Rep. Herb Conaway Jr., D-N.J., after a visit with Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., discussed their findings. Conaway, a physician, stated he was “horrified” by previous claims of poor conditions but did not observe major issues during his visit.
In a separate recorded statement, Conaway emphasized the need for inspections by state officials to assess conditions accurately. Last week, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., joined other lawmakers on a separate tour, alleging that food was scarce and of poor quality. He claimed detainees only ate three times per day and sometimes found maggots in their food, an accusation DHS denied.
Detainees reportedly experienced extended wait times for medical care, although ambulances from a local hospital frequently arrived at the facility. With lawmakers like Nadler questioning food quality and conditions, DHS argued that commissary figures undermine claims of a widespread refusal to accept meals during the alleged hunger strike.
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