Exclusive: Revenue figures from the Delaney Hall ICE Detention Center’s commissary might challenge claims from some Democrats regarding a supposed “hunger strike” at the Newark facility, as reports indicate a significant increase in commissary sales during the purported strike.
After various Democrats toured the center and highlighted poor conditions and spoiled food, officials related to Delaney Hall’s management contested these allegations.
According to officials, revenue from Delaney Hall’s commissary, where inmates can purchase snacks and groceries, experienced a threefold increase during the hunger strike.
When questioned about the figures, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed this information, providing data to support the assertion that detainees continued to buy substantial amounts of food from the commissary throughout the hunger strike.
Local news sources, such as Gothamist, reported that inmates began a hunger and labor strike around May 23.
Senator Andy Kim (D.N.J.) visited the facility shortly thereafter and echoed concerns raised by others; he was even caught in a round of pepper spray as tensions escalated between outside agitators and ICE personnel.
Other lawmakers, including Representatives Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson-Coleman, voiced similar concerns.
On Thursday, a spokesperson from DHS labeled the claims about the strike as “misinformation,” sharing data that aligned with prior statements.
As of May 26, Delaney Hall had 724 detainees, and its commissary reported earnings of $11,498 the week prior. Interestingly, as the hunger strike unfolded, revenue rose sharply week by week.
By June 1, despite a drop in detainee population to 621, the commissary was raking in over $30,000 in weekly sales. This, paired with a 14% decrease in detainees, raised eyebrows, leading officials to suggest that some participating in the hunger strike traded scheduled meals for snacks instead.
“The hunger strike narrative is essentially detainees opting for sweets over healthier options,” noted Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Biss, stating that this situation should prompt politicians to stop what she called “political theater” and collaborate on removing criminal illegal aliens from communities.
Chief Mark Wayne Mullin, supporting Biss’s statement, testified before Congress that much of the backlash stemmed from inmates being dissatisfied with Americanized meals compared to their native cuisines.
A commissary menu shared by DHS included items such as lotion, birthday cards, Cheetos, summer sausage, and Hawaiian Punch.
This week, Representative Herb Conaway Jr. (D.N.J.) reassessed conditions after discussing an inspection with nearby Representative Donald Norcross (D.N.J.). While Conaway expressed being “horrified and outraged” by accounts of poor conditions and inadequate due process, he did not identify any “significant concerns” during his tour.
“I had a chance to converse with around 20 women, some of whom have been there for over a year. They have many concerns, particularly regarding their health. They miss their families and want to return to their lives,” Conaway remarked outside the facility.
Last week, Representative Jerrold Nadler from New York joined a tour and presented a contrasting perspective, criticizing conditions at the center. He alleged, among other things, that the food quality was poor and meal times were excessively limited.
His assertion included claims that detainees were served spoiled food, which DHS officials refuted.
While lawmakers like Nadler claimed inadequate food and sanitation issues, DHS argued that the commissary data refutes narratives of widespread food denial during the supposed hunger strikes.
