Protests at Newark, New Jersey's Delaney Hall detention facility continued on May 26, 2026, with demonstrators clashing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Video footage captured immigration authorities pushing a woman through a line of guards while threatening to use pepper spray as protesters shouted at them. The protests were part of ongoing demonstrations regarding conditions for detainees, which were reportedly sparked by a hunger strike among the detainees.
Approximately 300 detainees issued an open letter claiming inadequate medical care and insufficient food, which was disputed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS stated that all detainees receive three meals a day, clean water, and access to medical care. The GEO Group, which operates Delaney Hall, also denied the accusations, asserting that detainees have access to medical professionals and various support services.
Prominent New Jersey Democrats, including Senator Andy Kim and Governor Mikie Sherrill, were involved in the protests. While Kim was granted access to the facility, Sherrill's request was denied, leading her to express concerns about transparency. DHS characterized Sherrill's visit as a political stunt, noting that protests had escalated to the point of blocking facility entrances. Other Democrats, including Representatives Robert Menendez and LaMonica McIver, participated in the protests, with McIver facing federal charges related to an incident at the facility in 2025.