Protests erupted on Monday outside a detention center in New Jersey, where many critics argue that illegal immigrants are being held in terrible conditions. Demonstrators tried to create a human chain outside the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill sought to enter the facility but was reportedly denied access.
Sherrill expressed her frustration, saying, “My request for access to Delaney Hall was formally denied this morning, raising serious questions about what they are trying to hide from the public.” She has long been against private detention centers and voiced concern over plans for other mass detention facilities in New Jersey, specifically a proposed one in Roxbury.
Reports indicate that some protesters threw water and shouted at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during the demonstration, which led to several individuals being detained. The atmosphere was tense, with protesters chanting, “No more ice cream!” and “Release everyone!” while face-to-face with ICE agents.
Amidst all this, hundreds of detainees have been participating in hunger strikes, claiming that they endure squalid living conditions and are often denied necessary medical treatment. A letter from a group of around 300 detainees described their environment as “inhumane,” emphasizing that they felt “kidnapped” after entering the country illegally.
The letter expressed remorse for their entry method but highlighted that they faced life-threatening situations back home. “We feel in a sense vulnerable, kidnapped and detained without justifiable reasons,” they wrote. They further described the conditions as mentally and physically torturous due to inadequate food.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security countered these claims, stating that detainees are provided with three meals per day and other essentials. They also mentioned that undocumented immigrants have access to communication with family and legal representatives, and that the dietary standards at ICE facilities are said to exceed those of many American prisons.
Meanwhile, family members of detainees have been holding vigils outside the detention center since Friday. In past statements, officials from the Department of Homeland Security have described the detainees as “murderers, terrorists, child rapists, and members of the MS-13 gang,” underlining the complex and charged nature of this situation.
Political figures, including Senators Andy Kim and others, have been calling for the closure of the facility in light of these ongoing allegations of poor living conditions.
