Food Conditions at Delaney Hall ICE Facility Amid Protests
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), undocumented immigrants at the Delaney Hall ICE facility in New Jersey are being served a variety of meals, including offerings like fajitas and barbecue chicken. This announcement came on Friday, coinciding with lively protests outside the center, where demonstrators have criticized the treatment of detainees.
Protesters and Democratic leaders from New Jersey are urging the DHS to shut down this private facility in Newark. They cite alarming reports of inhumane conditions and subpar food quality at the 1,000-bed detention center, which currently houses about 300 immigrants.
DHS, however, claims that the living standards at Delaney Hall surpass those of many U.S. prisons. They also assert that the detainees are not participating in any hunger strikes.
The department provided a menu of meals served over the past month at the facility, run by GEO Group.
Breakfast:
Available options included various items—though the specific details were not listed in the release.
Lunch:
- Chicken fajita meat tortilla
Dinner:
- Salisbury patty with gravy
- Sugar-free fortified beverage
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin emphasized that detainees can access a commissary where they can buy alternative food if they dislike the regular offerings. He remarked, “If any of these Democrats want to put a fee on their books, feel free to do so. Take your personal money and give these detainees all the money they want,” during a recent interview.
A DHS spokesperson confirmed there are no hunger strikes occurring at the facility. They stated, “ICE continues to provide detained individuals with three meals a day, clean drinking water, and other necessary supplies.” The spokesperson noted that all detainees are given adequate support, including contact options for their families and lawyers.
Additionally, a certified nutritionist assesses the dietary plans, with ICE claiming to maintain higher detention standards compared to many facilities housing U.S. citizens.
