Protests Erupt at Delaney Hall Amid Hunger Strike Controversy
WHO:
Truthout - Press freedom groups reported abuses and retaliation by ICE agents, police, and GEO Group staff against journalists and hunger strikers at Delaney Hall.
Fox News - Newark Mayor Ras Baraka pulled police resources from Delaney Hall before a violent clash between federal immigration officers and anti-ICE agitators.
Newsweek - Detainees at Delaney Hall launched a hunger strike.
Fox News - Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Representatives Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson-Coleman (D-N.J.), and Rep. Herb Conaway Jr. (D-N.J.) were involved in the situation.
Fox News - Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Bis from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) commented on the situation.
Fox News - Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) also toured the facility and made statements regarding conditions.
WHAT:
ABC News Politics - Protests against President Trump’s immigration policies have intensified, becoming a significant flashpoint in the ongoing tensions outside the New Jersey detention center.
Fox News - A source familiar with Delaney Hall’s operations disputed claims made by Democrats regarding conditions, stating that the commissary revenue tripled during the hunger strike period.
Newsweek - Protests intensified outside Delaney Hall due to the hunger strike.
Fox News - DHS reported that revenue from the Delaney Hall commissary tripled during the hunger strike period.
Fox News - On May 26, Delaney Hall housed 724 individuals, and the commissary revenue was $11,498 for the prior week.
Fox News - By June 1, the detainee population decreased to 621, but commissary sales exceeded $30,000.
Fox News - Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Bis stated, "The hunger strike hoax was actually just Delaney Hall detainees trading nutritious meals for Honey Buns and Hot Cheetos."
WHERE:
Fox News - The protests and confrontations occurred outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
Newsweek - The protests occurred outside Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey.
Fox News - Delaney Hall is an immigration facility located in Newark, N.J.
WHEN:
Fox News - Reports of the hunger strike began around May 23, 2026.
Fox News - On May 26, 2026, Delaney Hall housed 724 individuals.
Fox News - On June 1, 2026, the population inside Delaney Hall decreased to 621.
WHY:
Fox News - Claims of inhumane conditions and lack of due process have been made by lawmakers and protestors, prompting calls for inspections of the facility.
Fox News - Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified before Congress that disputes stemmed from inmates rejecting Americanized food that did not match their home country cuisines.
Fox News - Claims of a hunger strike were made by Democrats who toured the facility, citing dire conditions and rotten food.
Fox News - DHS officials characterized the claims as a "hoax," suggesting detainees were purchasing snacks instead of refusing food.
HOW:
Fox News - Video footage captured chaotic confrontations between federal agents and anti-ICE agitators during the protests outside Delaney Hall.
Fox News - A commissary menu provided by DHS included items such as lotions, birthday cards, Cheetos, summer sausage, and Hawaiian Punch available for purchase by detainees.
Fox News - DHS provided revenue data to support claims that detainees continued purchasing food during the reported hunger strike.
Fox News - A commissary menu was provided by DHS showing items available for purchase, including snacks and sundries.
(UPDATED June 6, 2026 23:16 UTC)
Protests against President Trump's immigration policies have intensified outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, becoming a significant flashpoint in ongoing tensions. Press freedom groups have reported abuses and retaliation by ICE agents, police, and GEO Group staff against journalists and hunger strikers at the facility, while lawmakers and protestors have raised claims of inhumane conditions and lack of due process. Video footage has captured chaotic confrontations between federal agents and anti-ICE agitators during these protests, prompting calls for inspections of Delaney Hall.
--
(UPDATED June 6, 2026 17:18 UTC)
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has pulled police resources from Delaney Hall ahead of a violent clash between federal immigration officers and anti-ICE protesters. A source familiar with Delaney Hall's operations has countered claims made by Democrats, revealing that commissary revenue actually tripled during the hunger strike period. Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified before Congress that the disputes arose from inmates rejecting Americanized food that did not align with their home country cuisines, while a commissary menu offered items like lotions, birthday cards, Cheetos, summer sausage, and Hawaiian Punch for detainees to purchase.
--
(UPDATED June 6, 2026 15:19 UTC)
Detainees at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, have launched a hunger strike, prompting protests outside the facility and drawing attention from several lawmakers, including Senator Andy Kim and Representative Jerrold Nadler, who toured the site. The Department of Homeland Security reported a significant increase in commissary revenue during this period, with sales exceeding $30,000 by June 1, despite claims from Democrats about dire conditions and rotten food. Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Bis dismissed the hunger strike as a "hoax," suggesting that detainees were instead trading nutritious meals for snacks like Honey Buns and Hot Cheetos.