Full Breakdown
Escalating Protests and Police Response at New Jersey’s Delaney Hall Immigration Detention Center
6/2/2026, 4:48:54 AM
Escalation at Delaney Hall
On May 30-31 2026, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed ICE detention center in Newark run by GEO Group. The protest followed a hunger strike begun May 22 over alleged spoiled food and inadequate medical care. Police imposed a 9 p.m.–6 a.m. curfew, used riot gear, and arrested those who refused to leave.
Timeline of Key Developments
- May 22 – Detainees begin hunger strike.
- May 30-31 – Gov. Sherrill replaces ICE officers with state police, creates a protected protest zone, and Mayor Baraka imposes a half-mile curfew; arrests range from 20 to over 46.
Data & Statistics
Delaney Hall holds up to 1,000 beds; detainee counts range from 300 to 900. Arrests exceed 40, and the curfew covers a half-mile radius. DHS says no hunger strike; advocates cite at least seven detainees refusing meals.
Official Statements & Responses
Gov. Sherrill condemned “dangerous actions,” urged protesters to “bring temperature down,” and called for de-escalation. Davenport thanked demonstrators. DHS Secretary Mullin called facility’s provisions “full due process” and rioting “verbal assault.”
Criticism & Opposition
Immigrant-rights groups, the ACLU of New Jersey, and Democratic lawmakers call the conditions a “moral stain” and “depraved indifference to human life,” demanding full health inspections and an end to family detention.
On-the-Ground Reports
Video shows protesters with helmets, shields, gas masks and makeshift barricades; state police used riot gear, horses and tear gas, while ICE agents deployed pepper spray and batons. Detainees reported being pepper-sprayed and beaten.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
DHS says detainees receive food, water and care; advocates cite spoiled meals and untreated illnesses. DHS denies hunger strike, yet visits documented detainees refusing food. Arrest counts differ: media report 20-25 arrests, advocates cite over 46. Access limited to kitchen, while DHS claims full inspection.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I do not know why these individuals attacked or what they wanted to accomplish, but I refuse to let these dangerous actions detract from New Jersey’s dedication to ensuring public safety, keeping people safe from ICE, and that the people detained inside Delaney Hall are treated with dignity,” — Gov. Mikie Sherrill
- “There is no peace while we are torturing our neighbors on government dime inside this facility.” — Rachel Cohen, protester
- “When you’re threatening the lives of an officer, that’s verbal assault,” — DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin
- “We’re seeing constitutional violations left and right,” — Amol Sinha, executive director, ACLU of New Jersey
What’s Next
State police will maintain the protected zone while lawmakers push for a comprehensive health audit. Advocacy groups plan further demonstrations, and federal officials signal a review of the facility’s compliance with ICE standards, a decision that could shape broader policy on private immigration detention.
