Hundreds of immigration detainees at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, have engaged in a hunger strike since mid-May. This has led to protests outside the privately managed facility over concerns related to detention conditions and immigration enforcement.
Advocates and relatives of the detainees reported that the strike began with approximately 300 individuals refusing food and work assignments. They protested poor food quality, delayed medical care, sanitation issues, and prolonged detention without resolution. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputed these claims, asserting that there was no organized hunger strike.
Despite DHS’s stance, more than 200 detainees reportedly continue their labor and hunger strike. Detention Watch Network, an advocacy group, corroborates this action. According to the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ), another advocacy group, the hunger strike started following a rally outside the facility on Friday, May 22, 2026, with detainees calling out by phone and speaking through a bullhorn.
The NJAIJ stated that around 300 detainees announced their participation in a coordinated strike to protest conditions including “medical neglect, lack of air conditioning, and poor food supply.” They demanded a full investigation into the operations at Delaney Hall. The detainees declared in a statement that their ultimate goal is achieving freedom, not merely improved conditions.
The first major protest occurred on Sunday, May 24, with reports of smaller gatherings the previous day. Protests intensified on May 25, as family members, activists, and immigrant-rights groups assembled outside Delaney Hall. They attempted to obstruct vehicle movement in and out of the facility.
Video footage depicted clashes outside the facility, involving the use of crowd-control measures during encounters between protesters and ICE agents. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, along with several Congress members, tried to visit Delaney Hall on May 25. Governor Sherrill has voiced opposition to private detention facilities, advocating against the expansion of mass detention centers in New Jersey.
Conversely, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis dismissed the hunger strike as a political maneuver by New Jersey politicians for fundraising purposes. She refuted claims of poor conditions or abuse at the facility. During the protest on May 25, Senator Andy Kim reported being pepper-sprayed while with other officials outside. DHS confirmed that no individuals were directly hit by pepper ball projectiles, describing the situation as a law enforcement response to obstruction.
DHS argued that protesters obstructed officers while trying to exit the facility and ignored lawful commands to vacate the area. They claimed officers used minimal force to ensure safety and safeguard federal property. DHS stated that rioting is prohibited under the First Amendment and warned that obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reported on social media that the protest continued on May 26, with two individuals arrested for allegedly assaulting and impeding federal officers.
On Wednesday, May 27, members of Congress including Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Dan Goldman, and Adriano Espaillat toured Delaney Hall. They reported detainees’ accounts of poor conditions, such as contaminated food and inadequate medical care, labeling the conditions as “inhumane.” DHS refuted these allegations, asserting that Delaney Hall meets required standards.
DHS officials maintain there is no coordinated hunger strike and claim detainees receive adequate food and medical attention. They have accused protesters outside Delaney Hall of disrupting federal operations and engaging in violence against officers.
Located in an industrial area near Newark, New Jersey, Delaney Hall, a 1,196-bed facility, opened on May 1, 2025. It currently houses approximately 908 detainees daily, according to federal data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University.
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