On May 27, 2026, demonstrators gathered outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, and confronted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The protest coincided with a multi‑day labor and hunger strike by detainees inside the center, who claim they are subjected to substandard food and medical neglect.

ICE Deploys Pepper Spray and Batons as Protesters Barricade Delaney Hall Gates

Videos posted to social media show protesters using trash cans,old mattresses, and umbrellas to create makeshift shields while chanting hostile slogans such as “You will hang” and “Every cop, every fed, shoot yourself in the head.” ICE agents, clad in helmets and tactical vests, responded with pepper spray and batons to clear the roadway and allow vehicles to pass.

Six Demonstrators Arrested After Authorities Cite Assault and Obstruction Charges

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that roughly six individuals were taken into custody for allegedly assaulting law‑enforcement officers. In a statement,DHS warned that assaulting or obstructing ICE personnel is a felony and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Congressional Representatives Call Out “Dire Conditions” at the Private‑Run Facility

Representatives Jerry Nadler, Daniel Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, all from Manhattan, issued statements describing detainees as receiving “small portions of often spoiled food” and being denied adequate medical care. the detention center, operated by a private prison company along an industrial stretch of Newark Bay, has long been a flashpoint for criticism.

Department of Homeland Security Denies Hunger Strike and Accuses Critics of Political Posturing

DHS spokespersons rejected claims of a hunger strike, alleging that reports of abuse and poor conditions are politically motivated.. The agency has not provided independent verification of the detainees’ allegations,leaving a factual gap that fuels further protest.

Who Is Behind the Outside Protest? – Unclear Leadership and Tactics

The protest appeared to be a loosely organized effort; no single organization claimed responsibility in the footage. While some demonstrators attempted to block trucks, a driver later emerged to vent frustration, highlighting the chaotic nature of the confrontation.