Hundreds of people at an immigration facility in New Jersey protested against spoiled food, medical neglect, and other inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall. These individuals were joined by people held in other facilities across the country participating in hunger strikes.
Detained individuals at the facility resorted to starving themselves to draw attention to what they described as reprehensible and degrading treatment. An open letter signed by nearly 300 people highlighted issues including medical neglect and inadequate or spoiled food.
Protests outside the facility have received support from community members, loved ones, and elected officials. During these demonstrations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents reportedly used violence and retaliation against peaceful protestors and detained individuals. This included the use of pepper spray and physical force. ICE also reportedly used retaliation tactics such as solitary confinement or transfers to different detention facilities.
Information regarding the facility has been difficult to obtain due to what detainees described as an information blackout. Much of the available information has come from calls to attorneys or from observations made by members of Congress during limited oversight visits.
The hunger strikes at Delaney Hall are part of a broader trend across the nation. Recent or active hunger-labor strikes have been reported in several locations, including Tacoma, Washington; Alvarado, Texas; Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania; and Baldwin, Michigan. A strike also began in Adelanto, California, on May 19.
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report regarding the Camp East Montana facility on the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas, found significant issues regarding the treatment of detainees under the current administration. The report cited concerns such as the failure to perform health assessments within 14 days of detention and a lost loaded firearm.
Detained individuals have made several demands, including the release of young, elderly, pregnant, and medically vulnerable people. They have also called for meaningful judicial review of their cases and an end to the practice of pressuring detainees to sign deportation documents. The ACLU is currently representing individuals who reported experiencing violent abuse and medical neglect in detention.
