Protesters clashed with ICE officers outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday, May 26, 2026.
The demonstrations highlight escalating tensions over the treatment of immigrants in U.S. custody and the legality of prolonged detention under alleged inhumane conditions.
The unrest follows reports that hundreds of detainees [1] are participating in a hunger strike to protest poor conditions inside the facility. Protesters, including families, advocates, and ICE officers, gathered outside the center to demand improvements and the release of detainees.
Among those arrested during the clashes were Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ). Reports indicate that ICE agents pepper-sprayed Sen. Kim during the confrontation. The arrests occurred as demonstrators attempted to bring attention to the hunger strike and the lack of adequate care within the walls of Delaney Hall.
Lawmakers and activists involved in the protest allege that the facility maintains inhumane standards. These claims center on the lack of basic necessities and the overall environment provided to those held at the center.
In response to the unrest, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said that "medical, dental, and mental health services as available" are provided to those in custody. The agency did not specify the frequency or quality of these services in the face of the current hunger strike.
Local officials and advocates continue to call for an independent investigation into the facility. The clashes on Monday mark a significant escalation in local opposition to the Newark-based detention center, bringing high-profile political figures into direct conflict with federal agents.
“Hundreds of detainees are on a hunger strike”
The involvement of a sitting U.S. Senator and a city mayor in a direct physical confrontation with federal agents signals a breakdown in diplomatic communication between local government and ICE. This incident elevates a localized facility dispute into a broader political flashpoint regarding federal immigration enforcement and the human rights of detainees.
