300 detainees at Delaney Hall stage hunger strike over unsafe conditions, face retaliation
Jun 30, 2026·Location: Newark, NJ
Country of origin: Guatemala

Approximately 300 immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, a privately operated ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, launched a hunger and labor strike beginning May 25, 2026, to protest conditions including spoiled and expired food, inadequate medical care, overcrowding, filthy bathrooms, lack of hot water, and denial of medical treatment. Detainee Elder Guerra, a Guatemalan immigrant, suffered a head injury after slipping in the shower and was placed in isolation rather than receiving proper treatment. Martin Soto, arrested by ICE four months earlier while buying diapers, remained detained despite a judge blocking his removal from the facility. Detainees reported retaliation by facility staff, including beatings, solitary confinement for strikers, and confiscation of personal items. The facility, operated by Community Education Centers, faced scrutiny for a pattern of medical neglect and rights violations, with sustained crowds of protesters gathering outside in solidarity.
Timeline
Sources
- N.J. Gov. Mikie Sherrill says she wants access to Delaney Hall ICE facility amid protests
- Expired food, neglected medical care and hunger strike allegations fuel protests at N.J. ICE facility
NBC News·May 27, 2026·archived copy
- N.J. targets prison company running immigration detention center in lawsuits over conditions
NBC News·Jun 2, 2026·archived copy
- Homan denies substandard conditions at N.J. ICE detention center, says he ate there:
- Revealed: Trump administration forced treatment on hunger striker in ICE detention
The Guardian·Jul 28, 2026·archived copy
- Hundreds of migrants stage hunger strike at the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey
english.elpais.com·May 25, 2026·archived copy
- ICE Detainees At NJ Prison Launch Hunger Strike, Refuse To Work
patch.com·May 23, 2026·archived copy
- jerseyvindicator.org
- ICE Detainees At NJ Prison Decry 'Inhumane' Conditions, Plead For Help In Smuggled Letter
patch.com·May 19, 2026·archived copy
- Protesters clash with agents outside New Jersey ICE facility. Inside, detainees continue their hunger strike, attorneys say
sg.news.yahoo.com·May 26, 2026·archived copy
- Head Injury, Hunger Strike, and Despair at New Jersey Immigrant Jail
- Hundreds of ICE detainees on hunger strike over detention center conditions across US
independent.co.uk·May 25, 2026·archived copy
- Dems say ICE is retaliating against hunger striking detainees as protesters swarm detention facility
uk.news.yahoo.com·May 26, 2026·archived copy
- Feds Clash With NJ Protesters Outside ICE Prison, Sherrill Denied Visit As Hunger Strike Continues
patch.com·May 25, 2026·archived copy
- Who is ICE detaining at NJ
Gothamist·Jun 3, 2026·archived copy
- Congress members say Delaney Hall detainees fed small portions 'often' containing maggots
nbcnewyork.com·May 27, 2026·archived copy
- New Jersey Gov. Sherrill denied access to Delaney Hall amid hunger strike
WHYY·May 25, 2026·archived copy
- Why closing an ICE detention center is difficult — and rare. And how N.J. immigration advocates hope to make that happen.
- NJ Gov. Sherrill allowed inside Delaney Hall ICE detention center
Gothamist·Jun 8, 2026·archived copy
More incidents in New Jersey
- Congresswoman faces appeal deadline over charges tied to ICE facility protest, days after giving birthOct 6, 2026 · Newark, NJ
- Nurse thrown to ground by ICE agent outside NJ detention center, seeks $500,000Oct 6, 2026 · Newark, NJ
- Officials clash with ICE at Newark detention center amid hunger strike, mayor arrestedOct 5, 2026 · Newark, NJ
- Three men detained in ICE sweep near Morristown church, alarming schoolchildrenSep 25, 2026 · Morristown, NJ
- Father detained by ICE at bus stop in Freehold, New JerseySep 23, 2026 · Freehold, NJ
- Man hit by car during ICE pursuit in Jersey City; agent also struck, officials saySep 23, 2026 · Jersey City, NJ