Delaney Hall Detainees Issue 4th Letter Alleging Medical Neglect as 88% Had No Criminal Conviction
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 6
Delaney Hall Detainees Issue 4th Letter Alleging Medical Neglect as 88% Had No Criminal Conviction
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 6
Summary
A fourth public letter from striking detainees at New Jersey’s Delaney Hall repeated claims of inhumane conditions, citing medical neglect, unsafe drinking water, expired food, unusable bathrooms and poor ventilation, while demanding release and fair treatment.
Those allegations were underscored by the case of Elder Guerra, a Guatemalan detainee who relatives say was returned to the facility after a head injury, seizure and hospital visit, then kept in medical isolation as dizziness, pain and hearing loss worsened.
The GEO Group, which runs Delaney Hall under a $1 billion, 15-year contract, denied the accusations and said detainees have round-the-clock medical care, visitation access, legal resources and approved meals.
The letter follows a hunger and labor strike that began on May 22 and protests outside the facility, where ICE officers and police have used pepper spray, tasers, tear gas and arrests against demonstrators.
National scrutiny has also challenged DHS claims that detainees are the 'worst of the worst': a review of ICE data found 88% of people held at Delaney Hall had no criminal conviction and just over 70% had no criminal history.
With ex-prison execs in top ICE roles, can taxpayers trust the multi-billion dollar expansion of private detention facilities?
As officials block health inspections, how can the public know the truth about conditions inside these detention centers?
A detainee earns $1 a day for facility labor. Is this a voluntary program or a system of coercion?
Deadliest Year in ICE Detention: The Delaney Hall Crisis, Systemic Failures, and the Human Cost of U.S. Immigration Enforcement in 2026
Overview
Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey, is facing intense criticism due to alleged inhumane practices by ICE and its contractor, GEO Group. Over 200 detainees began a hunger and labor strike after being denied fresh food, medical care, and air conditioning. Reports from inside describe maggots in food, poor medical attention, unsanitary conditions, and lack of legal access. These issues are highlighted by a recent death at the facility and the fact that detainees are held for an average of 80 days. The crisis has sparked official investigations and calls for reform.