The Current Situation at Delaney Hall
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. That was its last and most important command.” This quote, from George Orwell’s “1984,” comes to mind with recent events surrounding ICE facilities.
A photo of Senator Andy Kim (D.N.J.) began circulating online, showing him rinsing pepper spray from his eyes outside Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark. Since December 2025, Kim has been vocal about his desire to see the facility closed, labeling ICE as a “lawless” entity wielding violence.
Interestingly, some have claimed that the protests were fueled by left-wing activists rather than ICE officers enforcing the law. This perspective suggests that the tumult outside Delaney Hall was more orchestrated than spontaneous.
On May 24, Senator Kim, alongside Representative Rob Menendez (D.N.J.), publicly criticized the treatment of detainees, describing the food provided as subpar and the conditions inhumane. In a statement, Kim reflected, “What, what is the atrocity of this regime? That’s what I’m trying to spotlight.”
The following day, Kim visited Delaney Hall. While there, he encountered protesters blocking the entrance. In a moment that drew media attention, he attempted to de-escalate the chaos but ended up getting pepper sprayed amid the unrest.
This incident served as a striking backdrop for Kim’s narrative. After months of escalating tensions and highlighting issues at Delaney Hall, he assumed the role of a peacekeeper, despite being one of the figures who fueled the existing anger.
While Kim and other local leaders, including Governor Mikie Sherrill (D), have likened Delaney Hall to a “starvation camp,” there’s evidence suggesting otherwise. Menus shared with detainees featured meals like oatmeal, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and more, raising questions about the accuracy of the starvation claims.
Moreover, Kim voiced concerns about the lack of medical care for detainees, a claim the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directly refuted, stating that detainees have access to necessary medical services from the moment they enter ICE custody.
It’s worth noting that while freedom is undeniably preferable to detention, the reality is that those held at ICE facilities are not random immigrants; they are individuals facing immigration law violations. Claims of inhumane treatment often overlook the circumstances that led to their detention.
Interestingly, none of the officials questioning Delaney Hall’s practices have compared the conditions faced by detainees with those who were detained during the January 6 protests, an oversight that raises further questions about the consistency in their positions.
Furthermore, protesters at Delaney Hall seemed unable to provide examples of American citizens parallelled with the injustices they claim detainees suffer, despite their public assertions.
The reality is that the facility has served as an ICE detention center since the Obama era. Its existence was bolstered during the Biden administration, and many who now voice outrage were largely silent or complicit when similar practices were in place under their own leadership.
Crucially, the violence witnessed outside Delaney Hall cannot simply be blamed on law enforcement. Some left-wing groups and politicians, by fanning the flames of discontent, have transformed legal detention spaces into contentious battlegrounds.
This cycle of misinformation and political posturing only exacerbates the chaos and division within communities. So, what drives these claims? It seems they serve to distract from the repercussions of current immigration policies while feeding a narrative that paints enforcement efforts as unjust.
Ultimately, fiery visits and exaggerated rhetoric won’t offer solutions. They only amplify the existing climate of tension.
The evidence regarding the situation at Delaney Hall is available for anyone willing to look beyond the surface. Whether any party recognizes this and takes it to heart remains a pressing question.
