Allegations of Mismanagement at Delaney Hall ICE Detention Center

Two individuals familiar with conditions inside New Jersey’s Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center report significant issues. A recently released detainee and the wife of a man still detained described to Newsweek incidents of medical neglect, retaliation, and unsanitary conditions, despite ICE officials denying any ongoing hunger strike.

Claims from Inside Delaney Hall

A Colombian national detained in Delaney Hall alleged he faced a traumatic experience. He accused guards of physical abuse after they claimed he tripped an officer. He mentioned inadequate medical care and food quality during his nearly month-long detention, which began in April. He said, “I was there for almost two weeks, two and a half weeks with diarrhea.” Medicines were requested but not provided. He was released in May and claimed other detainees with serious medical needs were ignored, citing a case with uncontrolled blood pressure.

The wife of another detainee detailed similar issues. Her husband, held for four months, suffered frequent illnesses, contracting the flu multiple times without timely medical attention. She reported food was predominantly frozen and processed, and bathroom facilities required detainees’ maintenance, with frequent shortages of toilet paper. She also noted retaliation against hunger strike participants; a translator was allegedly beaten, and pepper spray was used on intervening detainees who were left with injuries and only given water for care.

Allegations of Retaliation and Denials

Her husband’s habeas petition remains pending. She disputes federal claims of no hunger strike, asserting many detainees continue to refuse food despite staff pressures. The allegations coincide with protests at Delaney Hall over reported facility conditions. Advocates claim over 200 detainees participated in a mid-May hunger and labor strike over these issues. Federal authorities deny any strike occurrence.

Outside the center, protests have involved attempts to block vehicles, countered by federal force. Witnesses reported pepper balls and tear gas against crowds. Federal explanations cite obstruction and assaults on enforcement. Some lawmakers characterized conditions at Delaney Hall as inhumane, with Governor Mikie Sherrill denied access during a visit attempt.

Official Responses

Scott Mechkowski, former ICE deputy director, criticized accusations as political stunts by sanctuary state politicians, claiming no hunger strike or substandard conditions exist. He suggested the claims were generated outrage by agitators obstructing ICE functions.

Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary at DHS, challenged the claims’ validity. Bis emphasized unverified anonymous allegations are difficult to address. ICE stated there is no hunger strike and contested reports of neglect or retaliation. She defended the conditions, stating detained individuals receive essential services that exceed most U.S. prisoners’ conditions.

Wider Hunger Strikes and Advocacy Concerns

Delaney Hall’s situation mirrors broader patterns at other ICE sites like Adelanto in California. There, detainees protested mold, unsafe water, and medical care issues. Advocates argue immigration detention expansion under the Trump administration worsens ongoing issues. Reports indicate 18 deaths in ICE custody this year.

New Jersey Democrats, including Senator Andy Kim and Representative LaMonica McIver, protested alongside community members. ICE responded with an armored vehicle and agents deploying pepper balls and tear gas.

Detainees at both facilities demand full custody releases, especially for vulnerable groups, and have called for facility closures. Delaney Hall detainees seek dialogue with Governor Sherrill to showcase conditions.

Advocates’ Views

Advocate Esmeralda Santos highlighted ongoing reports of abuse and neglect within these facilities, stating detainees risk retaliation to raise their voices. Kathy O’Leary and Nanci Palacios Godinez pointed out systemic issues in ICE detention. They emphasized the unnecessary and abusive nature of detention, describing conditions as intolerable.

The tensions at Delaney Hall underline a larger national debate on ICE detention. With protests and political scrutiny intensifying, questions about New Jersey’s facility conditions and official responses grow more pressing.