Crisis at Delaney Hall: Immigrants on Strike in New Jersey Prison Demand Freedom and Human Rights
On a busy industrial corridor in Newark, the atmosphere has shifted from routine commerce to one of intense confrontation. Federal agents, equipped with rifles, metal batons, flak vests, and balaclavas, have been positioned on the sidewalks to face unarmed activists carrying cardboard signs and bullhorns. Behind the high walls of the facility, the sounds of protest have become a constant: detained workers can be heard shouting “¡Libertad!” (Freedom!) from the prison’s soccer field.
The situation has escalated significantly as immigrants on strike in New Jersey prison facilities have initiated a massive work stoppage and hunger strike. According to reports from activists and detainees, approximately 300 individuals have been participating in this protest since May 22. The strikers are demanding more than just improved living conditions. they are demanding fundamental freedom and the right to be treated with human dignity.
The focal point of this unrest is Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed privately owned detention center. As the strike continues, the intersection of private profit, federal enforcement, and human rights has created a volatile situation that is drawing the attention of local, state, and federal officials alike.
Demands for Reform and Immediate Release
The hunger strikers at Delaney Hall have articulated a specific set of demands aimed at both the state government and federal authorities. Primarily, the detainees are calling for a meeting with the Governor of New Jersey to address the systemic issues within the facility. They are demanding the immediate release of several vulnerable populations, including young detainees, elderly individuals, and those with significant medical needs.
The impetus for the strike stems from what detainees describe as subhuman living conditions. Through video communications, workers have reported that they have been forced to work for as little as $1 an hour, or in some instances, have received no pay at all. The strike is designed to hit the bottom line of the facility’s operators, but the physical toll on the participants has been severe. Because the hunger strike coincides with existing reports of food scarcity, the health of the detainees has deteriorated rapidly.
The ICE Out of NJ coalition—a group comprising the immigrant rights organization Cosecha, the Catholic advocacy group Pax Christi, and the worker center New Labor—has been protesting outside the facility for months. They allege that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and guards from the GEO Group, the private-prison contractor, have engaged in several forms of misconduct, including:
- Denying essential medical care to detainees.
- Providing food that is reportedly unfit for consumption.
- Refusing detainees access to their legal counsel or bail bonds.
- Arresting individuals during routine USCIS check-in appointments or at job sites, often without a judicial order for detention.
A handwritten letter co-signed by 300 workers in early May highlighted these grievances, noting that many individuals were already complying with legal requirements and had scheduled immigration court dates when they were detained.
The Economics of Private Detention: The GEO Group Contract
From a business and policy perspective, the crisis at Delaney Hall highlights the controversial economic model of private detention. The GEO Group, which manages the facility, is a major player in the federal contracting landscape. Reports indicate that the company holds a federal contract valued at $1 billion, which has contributed to record profits for the corporation.
A significant portion of these profits is reportedly linked to the labor of imprisoned immigrants. While the government maintains a “Voluntary Work Program,” workers have alleged that participation is often coerced through the threat of solitary confinement or other punitive measures. This raises profound questions regarding the intersection of corporate profit and the rights of non-convicted detainees.
The legal implications of this labor are complex. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery, except as punishment for a crime for which a party has been duly convicted. However, many of the individuals currently held at Delaney Hall have not been convicted of any crimes. This distinction is central to the arguments made by advocates who claim that the current system allows for the exploitation of labor under the guise of administrative detention.
Comparative Overview of Detention Conditions and Allegations
| Category | Detainee/Advocate Allegations | Official/Contractor Response |
|---|---|---|
| Labor & Pay | Work for $1/hour or no pay; coerced via solitary confinement. | Described as a “Voluntary Work Program.” |
| Medical Care | Denial of assistance; lack of mobility aids like wheelchairs. | U.S. Department of Homeland Security cited “physical fights” as the cause of unrest. |
| Food Quality | Reports of inedible food and scarcity. | Not specifically addressed in recent official statements. |
| Due Process | Arrests during routine check-ins; high bail fees (upwards of $50,000). | DHS officials maintain agents respond to detainee-initiated conflicts. |
Allegations of Violent Retaliation
On May 28, the situation turned violent as detainees and activists reported a heavy-handed response from GEO guards and ICE agents. These actions are being characterized by the ICE Out of NJ coalition as direct retaliation for the ongoing work stoppage and hunger strike.
Families of detainees have provided harrowing accounts of the events. Gabriela Fuentes reported that her husband, Jose Marroquin, was subjected to beatings and pepper spray after detainees attempted to protect a translator within their unit. According to Fuentes, the confrontation resulted in detainees being forced into their cells, with reports of blood being found on the floors and walls of the unit.
Nedia Morsy, director of the nonprofit Make the Road NJ, issued a statement warning that without immediate intervention, the violence could escalate to a fatality. “Right now there are ICE agents inside of Delaney Hall violently beating the hunger strikers,” Morsy stated, calling for an immediate shutdown of the violence.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has offered a different perspective. Officials stated that agents were responding to a “physical fight involving detainees at Delaney Hall.” Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Markwyane Mullin has taken a firm stance against sanctuary cities, suggesting that the pulling of Customs and Border Protection officers from airports could be used as a retaliatory measure against jurisdictions that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
Political Response and Calls for Accountability
The crisis has prompted a range of responses from elected officials, though many activists argue that these actions do not go far enough. New Jersey Senator Andy Kim visited the prison on May 25, only to emerge having been pepper-sprayed during the protest.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill expressed significant concern regarding the operation of the facility. During a news conference on May 26, Sherrill noted that New Jersey has laws against privately run detention facilities and expressed unease regarding the lack of access granted to her office. “The fact that they wouldn’t let me in there gives you some sense that there is some ‘there’ there, and that’s really concerning to me,” Sherrill said.
U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman also voiced concerns after receiving reports from constituents. She noted that families have reported seeing bloodied relatives and even an 11-year-old girl describing the injuries of her father inside the facility. Despite these reports, access for elected officials remains limited, and the New Jersey Department of Health was reportedly denied full access for a scheduled inspection on Thursday.
The ICE Out of NJ coalition continues to press for more than just statements. Jorge Torres of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network has called on the Governor and the Attorney General to enter the facility immediately and hold both the GEO Group and ICE accountable for the reported violence.
The Human Cost: Stories of Detainment
Beyond the political and economic debates, the human impact of the detention at Delaney Hall is deeply personal. One such case is that of Martin Soto Hernandez, who was detained in January. His wife, Gabriela Soto, has shared that despite his deteriorating health, he helped organize the hunger strike. According to his legal counsel, Soto Hernandez has lost 110 pounds during his detention, leaving him in a severely weakened state.
Soto Hernandez was eventually transferred to a different detention camp in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on May 25. His case underscores the plight of many families who feel that the current system is “ripping families apart” without providing the due process required by law.
Gloria Guerrero of New Labor described Delaney Hall as a place where the “American Dream” is replaced by a system that treats people like criminals, regardless of their legal status or criminal record. “Children wait for the return of parents detained by a cruel and inhumane system—locked in dungeons, treated like criminals, and stripped of every right,” Guerrero said.
Key Takeaways: The Delaney Hall Crisis
- Scale of Unrest: Approximately 300 detainees are currently engaged in a work stoppage and hunger strike at the Delaney Hall facility.
- Core Demands: Strikers are seeking meetings with the Governor, the release of medically vulnerable and elderly detainees, and an end to the current detention practices.
- Economic Context: The facility is operated by the GEO Group, which manages a $1 billion federal contract, raising questions about the profitability of immigrant labor.
- Primary Allegations: Detainees report medical neglect, poor food quality, and violent retaliation by ICE and GEO Group staff.
- Political Tension: Local and state officials are calling for transparency, while federal authorities have defended agent actions as responses to detainee-led violence.
As of this writing, the situation remains fluid. The next critical developments will likely involve the outcomes of attempted inspections by the New Jersey Department of Health and any further responses from the Governor’s office regarding the detainees’ request for a meeting. We will continue to monitor official filings and statements from both the GEO Group and the Department of Homeland Security.
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