Protesters Clash With ICE at Newark Detention Center as 3 Arrests Follow Hunger Strike
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 28
Protesters Clash With ICE at Newark Detention Center as 3 Arrests Follow Hunger Strike
10 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 28
Photos from Wednesday show protesters confronting ICE agents at the entrance to Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
The clash came amid a detainee hunger strike over alleged inhumane conditions, including reports of rotten food, worms, maggots and inadequate medical care.
3 arrests were reported in the broader protest, and officers used force; Senator Andy Kim was pepper-sprayed during the unrest.
Delaney Hall has drawn wider political scrutiny, with Congressmen Adriano Espaillat and Jerrold Nadler and Senator Cory Booker visiting as DHS disputed the abuse claims.
Could protests at one detention center shut down international travel to major US airports?
When federal agents block lawmakers from oversight visits, who holds those agents accountable?
With detainee mortality rates rising, can private facilities ensure humane care and still be profitable?
Crisis at Delaney Hall: 2026 Hunger Strike, Protests, and Political Showdown Over ICE Detention in Newark
Overview
As of May 28, 2026, Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility in Newark, faced a deepening crisis as detainees launched a combined work and hunger strike to protest alleged poor living conditions. The protest began on May 23, with detainees informing their families and escalating by the third day. Tensions rose further when guards attempted to transfer a detainee, prompting strong reactions from protesters outside. These events highlight growing unrest inside and outside the facility, driven by demands for better treatment and the release of vulnerable detainees, and have drawn significant attention from political leaders and the public.