Violent clashes outside detention center amid migrant hunger strike

Violent protests have erupted outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, where hundreds of undocumented migrants are staging a hunger strike. The demonstration highlights severe allegations of mistreatment and neglect within the facility, operated by GEO Group on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

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They serve rotten food and engage in reprisals. A few days ago, we had clients who were pepper-sprayed.

Detainees, numbering around 300, initiated the hunger strike after discovering mold and worms in their food. Lawyers representing the migrants claim that the facility serves rotten food and engages in retaliatory actions, including pepper-spraying clients. Selenia Destefani, chief legal counsel at Nova Law, stated, "We had clients with cancer who were not given their medication and others with diabetes who did not get access to insulin." She added that a client required hospitalization and surgery due to the food served.

The situation is exacerbated by unsanitary conditions, with reports of uncleaned toilets due to the strike. The smell around the facility is described as foul, partly due to its proximity to a landfill and sewage treatment plant, but lawyers assert the stench inside is even worse. GEO Group and the Department of Homeland Security deny the accusations, stating detainees receive three meals daily and necessary medical care.

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We had a client with cancer who was not given her medication and others with diabetes who did not get access to insulin.

Clashes between activists and law enforcement have been intense, with injuries reported among both groups, including AP photographer Angelina Katsanis. These protests have become a symbol of growing resistance against ICE's stringent immigration policies, particularly under the Trump administration. The number of people in ICE detention has more than doubled in recent years, leading to overcrowding and deteriorating conditions, with over 50 deaths reported in detention during Trump's second term.

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When someone loses 5–10 kilos in a few weeks and you see their bruises, it's about facts, not opinions. We had a client who had to be hospitalized and operated on because of the food he ate. I mean that the authorities are lying to cover up what is happening.