On May 27, 2026, demonstrators gathered outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey, confronting ICE officers after detainees began a labor and hunger strike. The confrontation escalated into a physical clash, with protesters using makehift shields and ICE responding with pepper spray and batons.

May 27 Clash at Newark's Delaney Hall Detention Center

Protesters barricaded the entrance to Delaney Hall, using trash cans, old mattresses, umbrellas and orange traffic cones to block vehicles and create defensive walls. Some participants shouted slogans such as “You will hang!” and “Every cop,every fed, shoot yourself in the head,” while ICE agents deployed pepper spray and batons to disperse the crowd. A truck driver even exited his vehicle to confront the demonstrators, underscoring how the protest disrupted ordinary traffic on Newark Bay.

Lawmakers Cite Spoiled Food and Ignored Medical Needs

Representatives Jerry Nadler, Daniel Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, who toured the facility as part of an oversight visit, described “small portions of often spoiled food” and “ignored medical needs” inside the privately‑run center .. Their statements, reported by the Associated Press, paint a stark picture of neglect that has fueled the detainees’ strike and the external protest.

DHS Denies Hunger Strike, Labels Criticism Political

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statemet rejecting the claim of a hunger strike, calling the allegations “political posturing.” DHS spokespersons also denied any abuse or poor conditions,emphasizing that “assaulting and obstructing ICE law enforcement is a crime and felony.” This denial contrasts sharply with the lawmakers’ on‑site accounts, leaving the public with conflicting narratives.

Six Arrests and Potential Felony Charges

According to DHS, about six demonstrators were arrested for assaulting law enforcement, and the agency warned that “anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The felony charges could deter future protests but also risk inflaming activist networks already critical of ICE’s tactics.

Who Oversees the Private Operator of Delaney Hall?

The detention center is run by a private prison company, yet the source does not identify the contractor or detail any oversight mechanisms. without that information, it remains unclear how contractual obligations intersect with the alleged neglect cited by the lawmakers .