Detainees at Delaney Hall Detention Center Engage in Hunger Strike

Over 300 detainees at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, have been on a hunger and labor strike for more than two weeks. They report poor conditions, including spoiled food, inadequate medical care, and allegations of physical abuse by guards. The detainees are calling for a meeting with New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill to request the immediate release of all detainees from the facility. In response to the protests, the Department of Homeland Security has partially restored family visitation and released pregnant detainees. Protests outside Delaney Hall have led to violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, resulting in over 60 arrests during one night of protests. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been involved in confrontations with protesters, journalists, and a US senator. Additionally, a detainee named Martin Soto, suspected of leading the strike, was transferred from solitary confinement. The situation at Delaney Hall reflects a broader history of immigrant incarceration and resistance, with similar strikes reported in facilities across New Mexico and California.