On May 27, 2026, protests erupted outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, as lawmakers and activists confronted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Demonstrators clashed with agents, a senator was pepper‑sprayed, and the ACLU accused the facility of medical neglect while the Department of Homeland Security defended its standards.

Sen. andy Kim pepper‑sprayed during May 27 protest

U.S. Senator Andy Kim, accompanied by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, reported being hit with pepper spray after ICE agents blocked their delegation from entering Delaney Hall. Kim posted on social media that an armored vehicle and a line of armed agents “poured gasoline on the fire,” describing civilians being tackled and pepper‑ball fire used against the crowd. This incident underscores the heightened tension between federal enforcement and elected officials seeking oversight.

ACLU alleges medical neglect for pregnant detainees

Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, cited “horror stories” of detainees, including pregnant women denied adequate medical care. The civil‑rights group claims that the lack of treatment violates basic humanitarian standards, a charge the Department of Homeland Security has denied, stating no evidence of abuse or hunger strikes exists.

Rep. Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman press ICE on conditions

Congressional visitors including Representatives Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman entered the facility after speaking with protesters and families. Goldman told reporters , “We want to make sure the conditions here are going to be dealt with,” before touring the detention center.. Their presence signals bipartisan concern , though ICE has maintained that the facility meets “the finest standards anywhere in the world of its type.”

Private operator’s role at Delaney Hall under scrutiny

Delaney Hall, run by a private prison contractor and situated along Newark Bay, has repeatedly become a flashpoint for immigrant‑rights activism. the private management model draws criticism for allegedly prioritizing cost over care, a point highlighted by Gabriela Soto, whose husband joined a reported hunger strike that she says now involves every detainee.

Who is overseeing the alleged hunger strike?

The claim that all detainees are now on hunger strike remains unverified; ICE officials have denied any coordinated protest, while activists insist the strike is widespread. Without independent monitoring, the true scale of the protest and its health impacts remain uncertain.