In a dramatic escalation of unrest within the United States’ immigration detention system, approximately 300 detainees at the Delaney Hall facility in New Jersey have launched a hunger strike, protesting against what they describe as “unsafe, inhumane, and unconstitutional” living conditions. This strike mirrors similar actions in California, exposing a deepening crisis in ICE detention centres across the nation, where calls for reform grow louder amid allegations of systemic neglect and abuse.
Protests Fuelled by Deteriorating Conditions
The hunger strike, now in its third day, has emerged as a desperate plea for attention to the deteriorating conditions inside the facility. Detainees have reported a troubling lack of access to legal counsel, inadequate medical care, and food that fails to meet basic standards. An open letter from those inside Delaney Hall paints a harrowing picture: “We feel vulnerable and, in a way, kidnapped — detained without justification — not to mention that we are being tortured physically and psychologically due to the poor food resources provided in these detention centres.”
Outside the facility, protests have intensified. Activists have engaged in standoffs with police, determined to highlight the plight of those inside. Among them is Gabriela Soto, who has spent several days outside Delaney Hall demanding the release of her husband, Martin. She alleges that he was violently taken away while simply buying supplies for their family. “They were pulling and dragging him into the van,” Soto recounted, her voice trembling