Approximately 300 immigrants at the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey have initiated a hunger strike, citing deteriorating and inhumane conditions, poor food resources, and a dangerous lack of due process, leading them to feel vulnerable and unjustly detained. This action follows similar hunger strikes in California, where immigrants at the Desert View Annex in Adelanto protested unsafe drinking water and inadequate medical care, highlighting growing unrest and scrutiny over conditions in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers nationwide.
Protests Outside Delaney Hall
Outside Delaney Hall, protesters, including Gabriela Soto, have demonstrated for days demanding the release of her husband, Martin Soto, who was arrested four months ago. A judge has currently barred his removal from the facility amidst ongoing legal challenges. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill joined protesters, was denied entry to the facility, and expressed deep disturbance over the allegations, advocating for the closure of Delaney Hall. Several Democratic members of Congress also criticized the conditions and the overwhelming caseloads in immigration courts.
Government Response and Policy
Homeland Security has denied allegations of medical neglect and initially did not recognize the New Jersey strike, adhering to a policy that defines a hunger strike after 72 hours without food. This comes as scrutiny intensifies on facilities like the GEO Group-run Delaney Hall, which opened May 1, 2025, amid concerns about detainee deaths, an accelerated mass deportation campaign, and the administration's plan to close an independent watchdog for civil rights complaints.
