On Wednesday, a group of Democratic members of Congress stepped inside Delaney Hall, the federal immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, to confront ICE officials about alleged hunger strikes and substandard conditions. The visit followed a week of heightened tension, including a pepper‑spray incident that left Senator Andy Kim bruised and sparked renewed protests outside the facility.

Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman demand "conditions" be addressed after meeting families

Representatives Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman, both from Manhattan, entered the detention center after speaking with demonstrators and relatives of detainees at the security gate. Goldman told reporters, "We want to make sure the conditions here are going to be dealt with," underscoring the congressional push for immediate oversight. Their presence marked the first time elected officials were allowed inside since the escalation on Monday.

Senator Andy Kim’s pepper‑spray encounter fuels accusations of ICE intimidation

Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey reported that ICE agents used an armored vehicle, pepper balls, and a spray of pepper‑spray when he, Governor Mikie Sherrill, and a delegation attempted to visit the facility on Monday.. Kim posted on social media that the response "only poured gasoline on the fire," describing the agents as "armed cowards and idiots." The incident has become a rallying point for immigrant‑rights groups demanding accountability.

Family members claim every detainee now joins the hunger strike

Gabriela Soto, whose husband was transferred after participating in the strike, told reporters that the protest began with roughly 300 detainees and has since expanded to "every single detainee inside there" wearing shirts that read "Abolish ICE." The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey has documented additional complaints, including pregnant women allegedly denied proper medical care... According to the ACLU, these accounts echo longstanding concerns about private‑run immigration facilities.

ICE and DHS deny any mistreatment, label criticism political

Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment when approached for a statement, while the Department of Homeland Security dismissed the hunger‑strike claims as unfounded. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin asserted that detainees are receiving the calories they request and praised the facility as "the finest of its type," though he admitted the presence of "some horrible killers" among staff. This official narrtive clashes sharply with the testimonies collected by activists and the ACLU.

What remains unclear about the scale of the strike and medical response?

Two key uncertainties persist: first, independent verification of how many detainees are actually refusing food, and second, whether medical personnel on site are monitoring health risks associated with prolonged fasting. The source article notes only anecdotal evidence from family members, and ICE has not released any internal data to confirm or refute the allegations.