A federal immigrant detention facility in New Jersey is currently the focus of a debate involving Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration. On Memorial Day, Democratic officials gathered outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, alleging that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is holding detainees in poor conditions, which has led some to initiate a hunger and work strike.
Democratic lawmakers have criticized the food, medical care, and legal proceedings available to detainees at Delaney Hall. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that conditions at ICE facilities exceed the standards of many federal prisons. DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis claimed that reports of a hunger strike were false, describing the situation as a political stunt.
An unspecified number of detainees began a hunger and work strike in protest of their detention conditions, according to Rep. Nellie Pou (D-NJ). A letter signed by approximately 300 detainees criticized the U.S. immigration system and the conditions at Delaney Hall, stating they feel unjustly detained and that their rights are being violated.
The Delaney Hall facility, which has a capacity of 1,000 beds, was reopened in Newark last year. It has faced protests from Democratic lawmakers, including New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, who visited the facility over the holiday weekend. A federal judge ruled that lawmakers have the right to visit ICE facilities without prior notice, a decision that the Trump administration is contesting.
DHS responded to the allegations by asserting that detainees are provided with three meals a day, clean water, and medical care. They also noted that many detainees at Delaney Hall have criminal backgrounds. The DHS criticized sanctuary policies that prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE, claiming these policies contribute to increased violence against federal officers.