About 300 detainees at Delaney Hall have been on hunger, labor strike since May 22

About 300 detainees at Delaney Hall in Newark have been on a hunger and labor strike since May 22 to protest dangerous conditions inside the facility, including medical neglect, lack of air conditioning, and lack of food. Detainees called for an investigation of Delaney Hall, its operations, and for Gov. Mikie Sherrill to visit to discuss protections for immigrants. Tensions escalated on May 24 when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers removed Martin Soto, a protest organizer, from Delaney Hall and attempted to transport him to the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility. Immigrant advocacy groups, such as Eyes on ICE and Pax Christi N.J., and community members responded to Soto’s transfer by protesting outside of Delaney Hall. Local officials joined protesters, including congresspeople and Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who was denied access to the building. ICE agents have pepper-sprayed protestors, pushed demonstrators with batons, and used an armed vehicle to deter the crowd, according to local officials and a video. The protests outside of Delaney Hall are ongoing as of May 26.

From Gothamist.