On May 27, 2026, a delegation of Democratic lawmakers toured the Delaney Hall federal immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where detainees were staging a hunger strike and protesters clashed with ICE agents. the visit followed a earlier incident in which Senator Andy Kim was pepper‑sprayed while trying to enter the facility.

Senator Andy Kim’s Pepper‑Spray Encounter Escalates Tensions

Senator Andy Kim described how ICE agents deployed an armored vehicle, pepper balls and a line of armed officers when his delegation was denied entry earlier in the week. "Instead of engaging with me and others about the poor conditions , ICE sent in an armored vehicle and a line of armed agents that only poured gasoline on the fire," Kim said, according to the source report. The incident sparked outrage among immigrant‑rights groups and set the tone for the Wednesday visit.

Representative Adriano Espaillat Calls for Immediate Closure of Delaney Hall

During the hour‑long tour, Representative Adriano Espaillat of New York declared, "We will shut this center down. We will shut it down," after witnessing the conditions firsthand. His statement, reported by the source, reflects a growing bipartisan push to end federal detention at the privately‑run facility, which has long been a flashpoint for protests.

Hunger Strike Claims: Every Detainee Allegedly Participating

Gabriela Soto , whose husband is among the detainees, told reporters that the hunger strike had expanded to include "every single detainee inside" after transfers began. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey corroborated reports of medical neglect, including pregnant women allegedly denied proper care. The Department of Homeland Security,however, denied any hunger strike or abuse, labeling the accusations as political posturing.

ICE’s Public Response: Security Rhetoric Over Transparency

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin dismissed the allegations, stating, "The fact is, we are giving them the calories they want. This isn’t Holiday Inn." He added that the agency runs "the finest facilities anywhere in the world of their type, but we have some horrible killers." ICE did not provide comment when contacted, a fact noted twice in the source material.

What Remains Unclear: Scope of Abuse and Legal Recourse

Key unanswered points include whether independent medical observers have verified the hunger strike and how many detainees have been transferred since the protests began. the source does not indicate if any federal investigations are pending, leaving the extent of alleged abuse largely unverified.