Guards at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey, have reportedly retaliated against detainees for nonviolent protests regarding poor conditions, including hunger and labor strikes. According to relatives and members of Congress, staff at the facility used pepper spray and batons against detainees, transferred protest leaders, and restricted family visitation. Detainees have reported issues such as scalding hot showers, food contamination, and lack of medical care.
A detainee's relative claimed that guards attacked inmates during what was supposed to be a negotiation. Members of Congress, including Reps. Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler, visited the facility and expressed concern over the conditions, noting the absence of medical personnel. A 2021 report from the ACLU highlighted a pattern of retaliation against hunger strikers in detention centers.
GEO Group, the private operator of the facility, confirmed the use of chemical agents during a physical altercation but did not address claims of retaliation. Protests outside the facility have continued, with demonstrators alleging that ICE agents have used force against them. Calls for the closure of Delaney Hall have been made by lawmakers, citing ongoing poor conditions and lack of due process for detainees.
