‘We are not criminals’: protests erupt as hunger strike rocks New Jersey ICE jail

Key Points:

• Protests at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, escalated into violence Tuesday night as federal officers used pepper spray and Tasers against demonstrators supporting detainees on a hunger and labor strike demanding better conditions and expedited immigration cases.
• Between 300 and 400 detainees, operated by the private prison company Geo Group, are striking over issues including poor food quality, inadequate medical care, and substandard living conditions, despite denials from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE officials.
• Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Andy Kim and Governor Mikie Sherrill, have attempted to enter the facility to investigate conditions but were denied access, with DHS labeling their efforts as political stunts and denying the existence of a hunger strike.
• Protesters and ICE officers clashed repeatedly, with officers using force to disperse crowds and detain individuals, while detainees and released inmates report serious health and safety concerns such as untreated illnesses, poor sanitation, and delayed legal proceedings.
• The strike and protests continue amid ongoing legal battles over private immigration detention in New Jersey, with advocates and detainees demanding improved treatment and transparency, while ICE maintains that detainees receive adequate care and services.