ICE Transfers Hunger Strike Leader Martin Soto After 125 Protesters Clash at Newark Detention Center
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 25
ICE Transfers Hunger Strike Leader Martin Soto After 125 Protesters Clash at Newark Detention Center
8 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 25
Martin Soto was moved from Newark’s Delaney Hall to the Elizabeth contract detention facility after ICE cleared protesters who had blocked exits to stop the transfer.
DHS said about 125 demonstrators formed human chains and barricades, damaged a transfer vehicle and were later dispersed; protesters and advocates said agents used pepper spray and batons, with at least one injury reported.
Soto had announced a hunger and work strike on Friday, part of a protest tied to a letter signed by roughly 300 detainees alleging poor conditions and inadequate medical care at Delaney Hall.
A federal judge had barred moving Soto out of state while his habeas case proceeds, but not within New Jersey; DHS also suspended visitation after the confrontation.
New Jersey Senator Andy Kim and Governor Mikie Sherrill visited families outside the facility Monday, as pressure grew to shut Delaney Hall over its treatment of detainees.
As states challenge federal power, can local laws truly shield communities from aggressive immigration enforcement tactics?
With federal oversight gutted, who now polices immigration agents when they are accused of using excessive force?
When an agency's budget soars but its oversight vanishes, what stops abuse from becoming standard practice?
300 Detainees on Hunger Strike at Delaney Hall: Protests, Retaliation Claims, and Political Fallout in New Jersey Immigration Detention
Overview
The attempted transfer of Martin Soto from Delaney Hall in the early morning led to immediate protests, with demonstrators—led by his wife Gabriela Soto—blocking ICE vehicles and chanting for his release. This confrontation escalated as ICE agents used force, resulting in injuries among protesters. The incident sparked strong accusations of retaliation against ICE, especially as public attention grew from both inside and outside the facility. These events unfolded amid ongoing hunger strikes and reports of poor conditions at Delaney Hall, drawing political scrutiny and highlighting broader concerns about transparency and detainee treatment in the U.S. immigration system.