Photo: Daniellagreen | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Wikimedia Commons
Newark Sues Over Delaney Hall As DHS Disputes Hunger Strike And Protest Arrests Continue
New Jersey sued The GEO Group on June 2 seeking a court order to force full access to Delaney Hall in Newark so state health officials can conduct immediate health-and-safety inspections.[1]
The state complaint alleges GEO denied inspectors entry and cites overcrowding, poor ventilation, inadequate medical care, unsanitary food preparation and a risk that contagious disease could spread; New Jersey asked the court to grant immediate inspection authority.[1] Protests that began May 22 and escalated into nightly confrontations have led to more than 80 arrests outside the facility, officials say.[2] The Justice Department has already charged Brendan John Geier with assaulting federal officers after authorities say he kicked and bit ICE agents during a May 28 clash.[3]
Delaney Hall was converted to an immigration detention center in 2025 and is run by the GEO Group under a long-term federal contract.[1] An August 2025 DHS Office of Professional Responsibility inspection found the facility compliant with 17 of 22 ICE detention standards but listed five deficiencies that needed correction.[4] DHS agreed to restore limited family visitation at Delaney Hall on May 31, with law-enforcement escorts, after relatives and lawmakers pressed for access.[5]
Federal and administration officials have publicly disputed reports of a facility-wide hunger strike and poor conditions, pointing to commissary sales and published menus as evidence detainees were not refusing food.[6] But visits by Democratic lawmakers and testimony from detainees and relatives alleging spoiled food, denied medications and coercion helped spur New Jersey's lawsuit seeking unfettered inspections.[1] DHS has called the state's filing frivolous and says the facility complies with state and local laws; the court fight will determine whether New Jersey inspectors gain the access they seek.[4]
The mainstream summary does not address the ongoing disputes regarding the credibility of the reported hunger strike at Delaney Hall. While it mentions that federal officials dispute claims of a facility-wide hunger strike, it fails to highlight that detainees and their families have provided testimonies alleging inadequate food and medical care, which contradicts the narrative presented by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This discrepancy raises questions about the validity of the DHS's claims, as the summary does not explore the implications of these testimonies on public perception and the lawsuit itself.
Furthermore, the summary does not mention the broader context of the protests, which have been described as a response to systemic issues within the immigration detention system. This framing is crucial as it underscores the motivations behind the protests and the public's growing dissatisfaction with conditions at Delaney Hall. By omitting these perspectives, the mainstream account risks downplaying the significance of the protests and the urgency of the state's legal action against the GEO Group.
Show source details & analysis (34 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On June 2, 2026 New Jersey filed a state-court lawsuit seeking court-ordered full access to Delaney Hall for immediate health-and-safety inspections, alleging The GEO Group denied inspectors entry and citing overcrowding, poor ventilation, inadequate medical care, unsanitary food preparation and risk of communicable-disease spread (The GEO Group).
- Protests that began May 22, 2026 outside Delaney Hall escalated into nightly confrontations through early June — demonstrators repeatedly blocked entrances, used traffic cones, trash cans, mattresses and pallets as barricades or shields, and federal agents responded with pepper spray, pepper balls, batons and tear gas; according to reporting, more than 80 people have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations (more than 80 people).
- Federal officials say clashes included assaults on ICE officers (DOJ and acting AG Todd Blanche posted photos of bloody wounds) and have brought criminal charges; DOJ charged Brendan John Geier after his May 28, 2026 arrest, alleging he kicked and bit ICE officers during the confrontation (Brendan John Geier).
- The Department of Homeland Security and administration officials — including DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and border czar Tom Homan — have disputed reports of a facility-wide hunger strike and poor conditions, pointing to DHS commissary sales records and published menus (DHS said commissary sales rose to more than $30,000 by June 1, 2026) and asserting detainees receive three meals daily and comprehensive medical care (commissary sales).
- Multiple congressional delegations and Democratic lawmakers visited Delaney Hall in late May 2026 — Sen. Andy Kim was allowed inside (May 25) while Gov. Mikie Sherrill says she was denied entry — and visiting lawmakers reported spoiled or unsanitary food, limited medical access and detainee claims they were pressured to sign papers, prompting demands for inspections and accountability (Gov. Mikie Sherrill).
- DHS announced limited family visitation at Delaney Hall resumed on May 31, 2026 with law-enforcement escorts for relatives, while Newark authorities imposed a 9 p.m.–6 a.m. curfew in the area amid continuing unrest (family visitation).
- Background: Delaney Hall was converted into an immigration detention center in 2025 and is operated by the GEO Group under a long-term federal contract; an August 2025 DHS Office of Professional Responsibility inspection cited the facility as compliant with 17 of 22 ICE detention standards but identified five specific deficiencies that ICE recommended be corrected (August 2025 inspection).
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
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📰 Source Timeline (34)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
June 08, 2026
3:05 PM
New Jersey police tackle, arrest multiple anti-ICE agitators on another tense night outside detention facility
New information:
- Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda said six people were arrested from Saturday, June 6, into Sunday, June 7, 2026, outside Delaney Hall on rioting/failure-to-disperse charges.
- Miranda stated the arrests followed observed property damage and blocking of Delaney Hall’s entrance, after which police declared an unlawful assembly because the blockage was a public-safety hazard for detainees and others.
- Police identified the six arrestees as Allison Wuu, 19, of Fort Collins, Colorado; Lucas Jimenez, 18, of Hoboken, New Jersey; Drew Larsen, 28, of Brooklyn, New York; Solomon Dunston, 30, of Bordentown, New Jersey; Rayaan Baywa, 22, of Riverside, Connecticut; and Julianna Wurst, 19, of Old Bridge, New Jersey, noting that Wuu and Jimenez had also been arrested on June 1.
- Miranda posted a public warning on social media saying that those coming to Newark to destroy property or incite violence would face charges and emphasizing that blocking the entrance to Delaney Hall puts detainees in danger.
- Video cited in the article shows Newark officers repeatedly ordering protesters to ‘back up’ before tackling and arresting some individuals who were blocking vehicle passage near the facility gates on the night of June 7, 2026.
- The article describes prior protest actions outside Delaney Hall, including activists pummeling cars and attempting to physically block vehicles entering and exiting the facility.
- Border czar Tom Homan told Fox News on June 8, 2026, that most protesters engaged in criminal conduct and property damage are from out of state, and he claimed facial recognition had linked some to prior unrest in Portland and Minnesota.
June 07, 2026
3:32 PM
Homan accuses Democrats of 'lying' about Delaney Hall conditions after surprise ICE facility visit
New information:
- On Saturday, June 6, 2026, White House border czar Tom Homan conducted an unannounced surprise visit to Delaney Hall, including touring medical facilities, recreation areas, housing units and bathrooms.
- Homan said he ate the same lunch as detainees in the cafeteria on June 6 – spaghetti with meat sauce, vegetables, rolls and dessert – and described the portions as more than he could finish.
- Homan publicly asserted that reports of a facility-wide hunger strike at Delaney Hall are inaccurate, saying one detainee attempted to start a strike but it was unsuccessful.
- In a Fox News interview aired June 6 and reported June 7, Homan accused unnamed Democratic politicians of 'lying' about Delaney Hall conditions and of 'enticing' protests with those claims.
- The article reiterates that DHS has released Delaney Hall menus showing three daily meals with items such as chicken fajitas and Salisbury steak to counter detainees' claims of inadequate food.
June 06, 2026
10:29 PM
What to know about the protests and arrests outside a New Jersey detention center
New information:
- PBS reports that more than 80 people have been arrested outside Delaney Hall in Newark following a series of protests that began in late May 2026.
- The article details protesters using traffic cones, trash cans, and other items as shields and attempting to block vehicles from entering or leaving Delaney Hall.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche shared images online of bloody wounds and bruises sustained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during the clashes.
- On Friday night, June 5, 2026, ICE officers arrested four people on charges that include assaulting law enforcement officers, obstruction, and threats, according to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
- Newark police said a Seattle man was charged with criminal mischief for smashing car windows during the protests, and Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda stated that no one has the right to come into the city and destroy personal property or incite violence.
- The article reiterates detainee allegations of moldy or expired food, overcrowded and un–air-conditioned cells, and denied medications, and notes that Democratic members of Congress visiting in late May said detainees' accounts were credible.
- President Trump’s administration, including DHS Secretary Mullin and border czar Tom Homan, publicly denied allegations of hunger strikes and poor conditions, with Mullin saying detainees are being given the calories they want and Homan praising the food after a visit.
3:19 PM
Federal agents arrest anti-ICE agitators during chaotic Delaney Hall confrontations caught on video
New information:
- On Friday night, June 5, 2026, video captured at least two anti-ICE protesters being detained by federal agents outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.
- The confrontations occurred as a caravan of government vehicles tried to exit Delaney Hall while protesters blocked, banged on, and kicked the cars; one vehicle was seen hitting at least one person in the crowd.
- Witnesses reported that pepper spray was deployed as ICE agents pushed crowds back and removed barricades to clear a path for vehicles.
- The clashes followed Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's decision announced Thursday, June 4, 2026, to remove Newark Police Division resources from outside Delaney Hall starting Friday, on the grounds that securing the privately run facility is not the city's responsibility.
- Baraka's statement said ICE had "increased its presence and engaged protesters in ways that escalated tensions," and argued Newark would not continue using city resources to safeguard a private GEO Group facility.
- The article recalls that Baraka himself was arrested in May 2025 at Delaney Hall on a federal trespassing charge that was later dismissed, and notes he was reelected mayor last month.
10:00 AM
Delaney Hall snack purchases cast doubt on hunger strike reports, DHS says
New information:
- During the week ending Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Delaney Hall housed 724 detainees and its commissary recorded $11,498 in revenue, according to DHS data provided to Fox News.
- By Monday, June 1, 2026, the detainee population had declined to 621 while weekly commissary sales had increased to more than $30,000, nearly triple the prior figure despite about a 14% drop in population.
- DHS Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Bis called the reported Delaney Hall hunger strike a "hoax" and said detainees were "trading nutritious meals for Honey Buns and Hot Cheetos" instead of refusing food.
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, in congressional testimony referenced in the article, said complaints about food at Delaney Hall largely stemmed from detainees objecting to Americanized cuisine that did not match food from their home countries, adding that the facility is not intended to be a "Holiday Inn."
- The reported hunger strike was widely described by regional outlets as beginning around May 23, 2026, with Democratic lawmakers including Sen. Andy Kim, Rep. Robert Menendez Jr. and Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman citing detainee claims of a hunger and labor strike after touring the facility.
- DHS provided a commissary menu listing numerous available items for purchase, including snack foods such as Cheetos and Honey Buns, summer sausage, Hawaiian Punch, lotions and birthday cards, to illustrate what detainees could buy during the period in question.
June 05, 2026
3:43 PM
Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, reacts to abuse allegations at Delaney Hall ICE facility
New information:
- On Friday, June 5, 2026, CBS aired a segment in which President Trump's border czar Tom Homan publicly responded to abuse allegations and prolonged protests at the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey.
- The CBS report, anchored by Camilo Montoya-Galvez, framed Homan's appearance as a direct reaction to allegations of inhumane conditions for detained migrants and the ongoing protest encampment outside Delaney Hall.
- The segment constitutes a fresh on-camera statement by Homan following earlier in-person remarks on May 30 in which he defended Delaney Hall as well-run after touring the facility.
2:03 PM
Tom Homan denies Delaney Hall allegations, says he ate there: "The spaghetti was good"
New information:
- On Friday, June 5, 2026, CBS aired a segment in which White House border czar Tom Homan again publicly denied allegations of abuse and poor conditions at Delaney Hall, saying he personally ate a meal there and that "the spaghetti was good."
- Homan characterized the facility in the CBS interview as not matching protesters' and critics' descriptions, reiterating his broader defense of Delaney Hall amid ongoing demonstrations outside the Newark detention center.
- The CBS piece framed Homan's comments as a direct response to "tense scenes" at Delaney Hall, highlighting that his public defense is occurring while allegations of abuse and poor conditions continue to circulate.
11:23 AM
Homan says N.J. ICE facility may not be "5-star resort" but is "well run"
New information:
- On Saturday, May 30, 2026, White House border czar Tom Homan toured Delaney Hall and later told CBS that while it is not a 'five-star resort' he considers it a 'well-run detention facility.'
- Homan said allegations of substandard conditions at Delaney Hall were 'not factual' and specifically denied claims of overcrowding, stating the 1,000-bed center was housing 706 detainees.
- He reiterated the Department of Homeland Security’s position that no hunger strike occurred at Delaney Hall, pushing back on visiting lawmakers' accounts.
- Homan said he ate the facility food during his tour, calling the spaghetti 'good' and noting he could not finish the portion he was given.
- He characterized the New Jersey attorney general’s allegations and lawmakers’ criticism as efforts to 'shut down that facility' and part of a broader push to 'abolish ICE.'
- Pressed on media access, Homan said he supports transparency at Delaney Hall but deferred final decisions on press entry to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
- Homan confirmed there will be 'increased activity in New York' by ICE but did not provide operational details, tying the ramp-up to local 'sanctuary' policies.
- He said ICE’s 'primary focus' at World Cup events will be security rather than immigration enforcement and that there is 'no priority' to conduct civil immigration actions at those matches, though ICE would act against national security threats.
June 04, 2026
1:22 AM
Gov. Mikie Sherrill accuses ICE of denying her access to Newark detention facility Delaney Hall
New information:
- On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Gov. Mikie Sherrill publicly accused ICE of denying her access to the Delaney Hall detention facility, writing on X that "ICE is denying me entry to Delaney Hall — raising serious questions about what is happening behind its walls."
- Sherrill’s office had previously said she attempted to visit Delaney Hall over Memorial Day weekend and was denied entry, and Fox notes it is seeking clarification on whether she was again blocked on June 3 or referring to the ongoing dispute.
- Sherrill said she met with families of current detainees in Jersey City on the night of June 2, 2026, and relayed new, specific allegations including denial of proper medical care and medication, violence and intimidation, threats to cut off phone and video access, loss of visitation, and detainees being pressured to sign deportation papers without translation.
- Sherrill reiterated in her June 3 statements that she supports ultimately shutting down Delaney Hall, while pledging to keep pressing for accountability and improved conditions in the interim.
- The article notes that DHS has dismissed New Jersey’s lawsuit over inspection access as "frivolous" and that a DHS spokesperson previously asserted detainees receive three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap and other basic necessities.
June 02, 2026
10:19 PM
Inspection of Delaney Hall ICE facility contradicts claims in New Jersey attorney general's lawsuit
New information:
- Fox reports that the most recent DHS Office of Professional Responsibility inspection of Delaney Hall, conducted in August 2025, found the facility compliant with 17 of 22 ICE detention standards.
- The August 2025 inspection identified five specific deficient standards: food services (ice buildup in freezers), admission and release (failure to fingerprint detainees upon release), holding room facilities (improper recording of checks and custodial information), environmental health and safety (improper labeling of cleaning equipment), and suicide and self-harm prevention (detainees not monitored for the required time).
- The inspection recommended that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Newark continue working with Delaney Hall to resolve the remaining deficiencies under its contract obligations.
- The New Jersey attorney general's lawsuit cites media and Democratic congressional reports alleging worms in food, lack of toilet paper, poor or absent medical care, and a tuberculosis report, which Fox notes are not reflected as such in the August 2025 OPR deficiency list.
- DHS publicly responded to the lawsuit on X on May 28, 2026, calling it a "frivolous lawsuit" and noting that four New Jersey State Health Department representatives conducted a foodservice inspection at Delaney Hall on May 28, 2026, from about 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
7:52 PM
‘Significant concerns’: New Jersey sues for full access to Delaney Hall detention center
New information:
- On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, New Jersey officials filed a state-court lawsuit against The Geo Group seeking full access to Delaney Hall for a health and safety inspection.
- The complaint, brought by Attorney General Jennifer Davenport on behalf of state Health Commissioner Raynard Washington, cites concerns including overcrowding, poor ventilation, inadequate medical care and hygiene, unsanitary food preparation and storage, and potential spread of COVID-19, influenza and tuberculosis.
- New Jersey alleges GEO denied access to 'significant portions' of Delaney Hall during a prior attempted inspection and says that denial has 'exacerbated the existing harms.'
- The state warns that unchecked spread of communicable disease at Delaney Hall could endanger the broader public if employees or visitors contract illnesses and carry them into the community.
- The complaint references public reporting and eyewitness accounts describing 'deplorable' conditions and denial of basic hygiene supplies, adequate food and medical care, while noting GEO maintains the facility is safe and sanitary.
- New Jersey simultaneously filed a motion asking the court to order GEO to grant full access for an immediate inspection to prevent 'immediate and irreparable harm' from contagious diseases.
- The Department of Homeland Security called the lawsuit 'frivolous' and asserted that Delaney Hall complies with all required state and local laws.
4:41 PM
Newark mayor calls for closure of Delaney Hall immigration facility at heart of anti-ICE protests
New information:
- On June 2, 2026, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka publicly called for the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, to be closed.
- CBS reports that Baraka linked his closure demand to the ongoing violent anti-ICE protests centered on Delaney Hall.
3:35 PM
Newark mayor questions state police tactics at Delaney Hall after Sherrill's order, calls agency 'a sword'
New information:
- On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka publicly said he disagreed with the tactics New Jersey State Police used outside Delaney Hall after Gov. Mikie Sherrill ordered them in, describing the agency as 'a sword.'
- Baraka said he agreed with Sherrill's decision to act and involve state police but criticized the specific tactics employed once they arrived, calling for 'larger discussions about tactics on the ground' and more involvement from Newark's local authorities in future decisions.
- Baraka stated that the city of Newark has been in active litigation against GEO Group, the operator of Delaney Hall, for the past year and that city officials have advocated for the facility's immediate closure based on alleged code violations posing health and safety risks.
- Baraka cited reports of detainees suffering miscarriages and receiving inadequate medical care and psychological abuse and said those allegations are prompting Newark to expand its lawsuit against GEO Group beyond code-enforcement violations.
- Newark Business Administrator Eric Pennington said he emailed GEO Group on the night of Monday, June 1, 2026, requesting access to Delaney Hall to verify detainee health and safety; as of Baraka's Tuesday remarks, GEO had not yet responded.
- Pennington indicated that if GEO Group does not grant Newark access to Delaney Hall, the city plans to take additional legal steps in coordination with partners (details not yet specified in the article).
May 31, 2026
9:44 PM
Political firestorm heats up after unrest at ICE detention center Delaney Hall
New information:
- On Sunday, May 31, 2026, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries led a Democratic congressional oversight visit to Delaney Hall and issued a statement saying the conditions they witnessed 'shock the conscience' and citing unsanitary living conditions, lack of adequate medical care, and unhealthy food.
- The Department of Homeland Security publicly responded to Jeffries' criticism in a social media statement, saying Delaney Hall is a detention center that provides 'basic necessities like beds, clean water, comprehensive healthcare, and 3 meals a day until they go HOME.'
- Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she ordered deployment of New Jersey state police on Saturday, May 30, 2026, calling it 'absolutely necessary' after ICE officers allegedly beat protesters with batons and began surging additional personnel.
- Sherrill said officers used tear gas and explosive devices Saturday night to disperse crowds, pushed protesters and media about half a mile from Delaney Hall for safety, and that six people were arrested, five of whom were from out of state.
- Sherrill publicly criticized 'masked' protesters traveling from other states such as New York and Pennsylvania, saying they were creating chaos and not helping detainees or families, and urged everyone to 'bring the temperature down.'
- Advocate Monica Aguilar of New Jersey Action 21 told MS NOW that detainees described receiving hamburgers with frozen meat, food with green mold or worms, and discolored water, adding to allegations of unsanitary food and water inside the facility.
- The article confirms that detainee complaints about poor conditions have led to a prolonged hunger strike inside Delaney Hall, according to protesters and summarized DHS denials.
- Family visitation at Delaney Hall resumed on Sunday, May 31, 2026, in a limited capacity after the prior night's clashes, with Sherrill again calling on DHS to restore full family visitation and provide appropriate medical care while stopping pressure on detainees to sign deportation documents.
8:02 PM
DHS restores family visitation at Delaney Hall amid protests, Sherrill says
New information:
- On Sunday, May 31, 2026, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said DHS agreed to restore family visitation at Delaney Hall, with limited visitation resuming at noon Sunday and regular hours to start Monday.
- Sherrill said law enforcement officers will escort families into the facility during resumed visits and urged "outside actors" to allow that to happen safely.
- The article reports that for a second consecutive night, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, New Jersey State Police used multiple rounds of tear gas against protesters after what officials called attacks on barriers, thrown projectiles, and tires set on fire.
- In response to the latest unrest, Newark's mayor imposed a 9 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew in the area around Delaney Hall.
- Gov. Sherrill publicly blamed "outside" and out-of-state agitators for creating dangerous conditions, reiterated her call for peaceful protest, and said she does not know the attackers' motives but will not let the violence detract from efforts to protect detainees.
2:36 PM
Agitators outside Delaney Hall set up organized logistics operation before Newark protests began
New information:
- On Saturday, May 30, 2026, Fox News reporters observed protesters setting up a highly organized logistics and support area outside Delaney Hall before that day's demonstrations began.
- Supplies at the site included stockpiles of masks, duct tape, medical supplies, sunscreen, hard hats, goggles, respirators and other protective gear arranged in containers and on tables.
- Many participants were seen wearing masks, respirators, helmets, hard hats and goggles before protests started, suggesting anticipation of clashes.
- Video showed an individual running toward a Fox News Digital reporter and grabbing the phone being used to film the supply area.
- State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said five of the six people arrested during the week by New Jersey State Police were from outside New Jersey, reinforcing officials' claims about outside agitators.
- By the morning of May 30, 2026, officials had surrounded Delaney Hall with large orange plastic barricades and metal fencing, turning it into a fortified zone.
May 30, 2026
6:30 PM
Gov. Sherrill blames ICE, defends rioters after deploying troopers to quell violent mob
New information:
- On Friday night, May 29, 2026, New Jersey State Police in riot gear, including mounted units, clashed with protesters outside the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark after demonstrators refused orders to move to a designated 'First Amendment zone'.
- Troopers deployed noise devices, tear gas grenades, pepper spray, riot shields and horses to disperse the crowd; protesters allegedly commandeered metal barriers and used them against police.
- Fox News photographs and descriptions indicate ICE vehicles were smashed and damaged during the confrontation.
- Gov. Mikie Sherrill posted on X on the morning of Saturday, May 30, 2026, calling an 'increased ICE surge in the area outside of Delaney Hall' a threat to public safety, saying 'lives would be at risk' and describing the state-police deployment as 'absolutely necessary to protect public safety, and avoid escalation from ICE.'
- ICE publicly thanked the New Jersey State Police on X for 'cooperating with us to restore law and order' and warned that assaults and threats against law enforcement will not be tolerated; DHS separately issued a statement praising state police assistance and saying ICE officers had been bitten and faced death threats and assaults.
- The article describes the protest group as organized, with a supply tent near the main protest area stocked with thousands of water bottles and other materials.
2:51 PM
Anti-ICE agitator charged with allegedly biting officers during Delaney Hall clashes
New information:
- DOJ identifies the biting suspect as Brendan John Geier, a 26-year-old man from Madison, New Jersey.
- Prosecutors say the biting incident occurred Thursday night, May 28, 2026, when Geier was part of a group blocking the road near Delaney Hall and allegedly ignored ICE deportation officers' orders to move.
- The Justice Department says Geier kicked officers and bit one officer's forearm and another officer's knuckle, with both officers treated at a local hospital.
- Geier has been charged federally with assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais on Friday, May 29, 2026.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer issued coordinated statements vowing to prosecute assaults on officers and distinguishing "peaceful protest" from violent attacks.
- DOJ released and Blanche posted photographs showing bloody bite wounds on ICE officers' arms from the May 28 confrontation.
9:56 AM
Man charged with assaulting federal officers after allegedly biting ICE agents at Newark anti-ICE protest
New information:
- On Thursday, May 28, 2026, federal agents arrested Brendan John Geier, 26, of Madison, New Jersey, at the Delaney Hall detention center protest in Newark.
- DOJ charged Geier with assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury after he allegedly kicked ICE deportation officers and bit one officer's forearm and another officer's knuckle.
- The alleged assault occurred around 10:30 a.m. on May 28, 2026, as deportation officers advanced to clear protesters blocking the roadway into Delaney Hall.
- DOJ says both bitten officers were treated at a local hospital for their injuries.
- DHS told Fox News Digital that nine people were arrested during Thursday's clashes outside Delaney Hall.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a statement condemning 'violently attacking federal law enforcement officers' and warning that additional arrests could follow.
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin publicly described Geier as a 'violent rioter' in a quoted statement and pledged that anyone assaulting law enforcement would be prosecuted 'to the fullest extent of the law.'
1:55 AM
FBI arrests protester who threatened to kill ICE officer's family at NJ detention center protest, Blanche says
New information:
- Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday evening, May 29, 2026, that the FBI has arrested the man who threatened to kill an ICE officer and his family during Thursday night's protest at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey.
- Blanche wrote on X on the evening of May 29 that the FBI had arrested the suspect who was seen on video making the threats; the suspect has not yet been publicly identified.
- DHS told Fox News that nine rioters were arrested during clashes outside Delaney Hall on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in addition to six arrests reported from Wednesday night.
- Federal officials described Thursday night's incident as involving about 100 protesters, some of whom allegedly bit, kicked and punched agents while throwing objects such as wooden pallets and mattresses.
May 29, 2026
6:05 PM
Anti-ICE agitator screams ‘I’ll kill your whole f- family’ day after Dem gov praises ‘peaceful protesting’
New information:
- On Wednesday night, May 27, 2026, an agitator at the Delaney Hall protests was recorded yelling to federal officers, "I'll kill your whole f---ing family... Your children, your wife, all dead," and, "I have your face, motherf---er, you're dead, dead."
- On Friday, May 29, 2026, the Department of Justice said it is actively searching for this individual, with Attorney General Todd Blanche stating on camera that issuing such threats against an ICE officer and his family is a federal crime and vowing, "we will find him, and when we find him, we will arrest him."
- Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who had said earlier in the week there was "a lot of peaceful protesting" and that ICE agents were "inciting" confrontations, issued a new statement after the threats saying "threats of violence are unacceptable" and calling on officials at all levels to "keep people safe, de-escalate the situation, and lower the temperature."
4:21 PM
Making a profit off ‘misery’: Cory Booker calls for closure of New Jersey ICE facility
New information:
- On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Sen. Cory Booker and other lawmakers from New Jersey and New York conducted a congressional oversight visit inside Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey.
- After the May 27 visit, Booker told MS NOW that conditions at Delaney Hall were an 'atrocity' and an 'assault on human dignity' and explicitly called for the facility to be shut down.
- Booker said he will push Congress to pass legislation increasing oversight and accountability at ICE detention centers nationwide, citing Delaney Hall as a key example.
- The article reiterates that Delaney Hall is run by GEO Group under a 15-year federal contract signed in 2025 and valued at about $1 billion, describing it as one of ICE's largest private contractors.
- Booker criticized GEO Group's political spending, referencing reporting that the company donated $250,000 to a group linked to Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Oversight Committee.
- ICE issued a formal written statement in response to criticism, characterizing reports about Delaney Hall as 'smears' and asserting that detainees receive three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, and toiletries.
- Booker tied Delaney Hall conditions to the 2026 elections, saying the situation is 'one of the reasons' Democrats 'have to win in November' and arguing that current immigration policy violates American values.
4:19 PM
New Jersey agitators bite, kick and punch ICE agents as Delaney Hall clashes continue; 9 more arrested: DHS
New information:
- On the evening of Thursday, May 28, 2026, DHS says approximately 100 protesters gathered around Delaney Hall in Newark and some bit, kicked, and punched ICE agents, leading to nine arrests that night.
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that both Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28, saw crowds of about 100 protesters, with six arrests on Wednesday and nine on Thursday for allegedly assaulting law enforcement.
- Mullin asserted that New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill refused to allow state police to assist federal officers and that local Newark police "largely refrained" from helping, despite repeated DHS requests.
- The article notes that during Thursday night’s clashes a Newark Police Department squad car briefly drove past the scene but did not join containment efforts.
- Mullin publicly warned that assaulting and obstructing ICE officers is a felony and vowed that anyone who assaults law enforcement "will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
2:48 PM
WATCH: America’s first ‘formerly undocumented’ congressman delivers ultimatum at besieged ICE facility
New information:
- On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Rep. Adriano Espaillat arrived at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, waving what he described as a District of Columbia federal court order and demanded entry, telling guards he had judicial clearance to enter.
- Espaillat said he is one of 12 plaintiffs, with Rep. Joe Neguse as lead plaintiff, in a lawsuit seeking to force DHS to allow members of Congress into any detention center, including privately run facilities, at any time without notice.
- Espaillat announced plans to introduce legislation that would allow New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and any governor or state official to inspect federal detention centers such as Delaney Hall.
- After Espaillat’s visit, Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Daniel Goldman spent close to two hours inside Delaney Hall on May 27, 2026, and Nadler publicly alleged detainees receive "very sparse" food, eat only at 4 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m., and "very often" encounter maggots in their food, while also claiming limited medical services and long waits for treatment.
- The article notes that ambulances from a local Newark hospital were seen arriving regularly at Delaney Hall throughout Wednesday and Thursday, suggesting ongoing medical transfers despite Nadler's claims of limited care.
- Nadler further alleged that President Trump is firing immigration judges who grant asylum, framing detainees as not getting "any kind of justice" in the current system.
1:25 AM
Anti-ICE agitators clash with federal agents outside Newark detention center
New information:
- On Thursday evening, May 28, 2026, clashes outside Delaney Hall intensified as a protest crowd grew to more than 100 people and repeatedly confronted unmarked federal vehicles trying to enter the facility.
- At least one protester was dragged to the ground and detained just feet from reporters; ICE agents on scene declined to say whether the detention would lead to criminal charges.
- Witnesses reported an unmarked federal vehicle driving through the crowd, prompting accusations from a female protester that agents tried to hit women demonstrators.
- The article describes additional scuffles Thursday where one protester was grabbed by the shirt and thrown to the ground and another was pushed against a truck stuck in the crowd.
- The piece reiterates that local police presence remained sparse on May 28, consistent with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's stance against assisting immigration enforcement.
- The story notes that earlier in the week, on Monday, May 25, protesters blocked entrances by linking arms, sitting in roadways and forming human chains to stop ICE vehicles.
- Fox cites Associated Press reporting that DHS said approximately six demonstrators were arrested on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 on allegations they assaulted law enforcement officers.
- The article adds that Sen. Andy Kim was allegedly struck by pepper-ball spray during an earlier protest, further escalating tensions.
- Activists believe Delaney Hall holds roughly 900 detainees, and they have linked the protests in part to reports of hunger strikes inside.
May 28, 2026
5:34 PM
WATCH: Police absent from Delaney Hall chaos as agitators block ICE vehicles and agents use pepper spray
New information:
- On Wednesday night, May 27, 2026, Newark police officers were not visibly present outside Delaney Hall as protests intensified around the facility's vehicle entrance.
- By about 9 p.m. Eastern on May 27, protesters had completely blocked the southbound lane of Doremus Avenue and were directing two-way traffic themselves while dressed in reflective vests as 'protester police.'
- A single Essex County Sheriff's deputy briefly drove past and ordered protesters to move to the sidewalk over a loudspeaker but left within seconds without remaining to manage the scene.
- As unmarked Delaney Hall transport vehicles with blue lights approached the sally port entrance from the south, protesters surged toward the gate and dragged two mattresses, a shredded orange highway bollard, tree branches and a sandbag into Doremus Avenue to obstruct the entrance.
- ICE agents responded by deploying pepper spray as a New Jersey Transit bus became temporarily trapped amid the crowd and improvised barricades, and a tear gas or pepper spray canister could later be heard 'popping' as another wave of irritant spread.
- Reporters observed protesters offering 'goggles and tape' to others before the confrontation, and some demonstrators were seen quietly collecting trash along the freight tracks while others confronted vehicles.
12:47 PM
Anti-ICE agitators throw wooden pallets, mattresses at federal agents during chaotic NJ detention center clash
New information:
- On Wednesday night, May 27, 2026, protests outside Delaney Hall in Newark escalated as demonstrators hurled mattresses, wooden pallets, traffic cones, and other objects at ICE agents across a barrier.
- Video from the scene shows some protesters shouting insults such as "kill yourself, bro" while brandishing makeshift shields and reinforcing their line with cement blocks and sandbags.
- ICE agents responded by using batons, pepper spray, pepper balls, and in at least one instance throwing a wooden pallet back after seizing it from a protester.
- Crowds blocked a surrounding industrial street and impeded truck traffic, prompting at least one truck driver to exit his vehicle and confront protesters, according to video cited in the article.
- Authorities made two arrests tied to Tuesday night’s earlier clashes after protesters allegedly sprayed an unknown chemical substance on law enforcement officers, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a post on X.
- DHS reiterated in a formal statement that detainees at Delaney Hall receive three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, toiletries, and access to phones for contacting family and lawyers, directly refuting the detainees’ open-letter allegations.
- The article specifies that Wednesday marked the fifth consecutive night of demonstrations over alleged conditions for detainees described as illegal aliens.
May 27, 2026
10:23 PM
Trump says Delaney Hall protesters are ‘paid’ as clashes escalate outside NJ ICE facility
New information:
- On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, President Donald Trump said during a Cabinet meeting that Delaney Hall demonstrators 'aren’t protesters' but 'fake' people who are 'all paid for,' and asserted, 'We run the finest facilities anywhere in the world of their type.'
- The article specifies that protests outside Delaney Hall began Friday, May 22, 2026, and have continued through the week, including Sunday night efforts to block detention-center vehicle traffic and Monday confrontations in which officers deployed tear gas and forcibly removed protesters.
- Video cited in the article shows officers throwing one protester to the ground and dragging another away from the entrance during the May 26–25 confrontations.
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin publicly defended Delaney Hall’s conditions, remarking, 'This isn’t Holiday Inn,' and criticized elected officials visiting the site, including Sen. Andy Kim, who he suggested 'probably shouldn’t have been there' after Kim was pepper-sprayed outside the facility.
- The article reports that Reps. Daniel Goldman and Jerrold Nadler were escorted into Delaney Hall on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, amid growing scrutiny of conditions inside.
- Sen. Andy Kim told CNN he saw spoiled food during a recent visit, describing a detainee handing him a milk carton that was 'congealed solid,' while ICE officials continued to deny that detainees are being held in unsafe or inhumane conditions.
2:23 PM
Federal agents in New Jersey beat back anti-ICE agitators in chaos outside Delaney Hall detention facility
New information:
- On Tuesday night, May 26, 2026, federal agents at Delaney Hall in Newark used pepper spray and batons while physically pushing back protesters who were blocking vehicles from leaving the facility.
- Video from FreedomNewsTV shows protesters making contact with the hood of a vehicle attempting to exit and federal agents forcing them back and clearing the roadway.
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated on X that ICE officers were assaulted by protesters who sprayed law enforcement with an unknown chemical substance and that two people were arrested for allegedly assaulting, resisting and impeding federal officers.
- Mullin reiterated on May 25 that "there is NO hunger strike at Delaney Hall" and said there were no "subprime conditions" at the facility, directly denying detainees' and protesters' claims.
- The Department of Homeland Security posted that it "will NOT let rioters stop or slow @ICEgov down" and highlighted recent arrests of individuals it described as serious criminal offenders in connection with ICE operations.
May 26, 2026
6:07 PM
Protesters clash with ICE as NJ detention facility demonstrations continue
New information:
- On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, protesters again demonstrated outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark and physically clashed with ICE agents, extending the prior weekend's protests.
- Video from the May 26 demonstration shows ICE personnel shoving a woman through a line of masked, armed guards, threatening to use pepper spray, and briefly grappling with a protester who shoved a megaphone toward an agent.
- The article reiterates that roughly 300 detainees signed an open letter alleging inadequate medical care for people with HIV, cancer and other diseases, as well as insufficient food and limited contact with families.
- DHS issued a detailed written statement disputing the detainees' claims and asserting that all detainees receive three meals a day, clean water, hygiene supplies, phone access to family and lawyers, and comprehensive medical, dental and mental health care.
- The GEO Group, Delaney Hall's private operator, provided a point-by-point statement to Fox News listing services such as 24/7 medical access, virtual and in-person visitation, libraries, translation services, religious accommodations, and access to community hospitals.
- The article notes that Sen. Andy Kim was allowed entry to Delaney Hall on May 25, 2026, while Gov. Mikie Sherrill was denied access, highlighting their continued involvement in the protests.
1:48 AM
Delaney Hall ICE protests escalate after Sherrill denied access by DHS
New information:
- On Monday, May 25, 2026, protests outside Delaney Hall escalated as ICE agents in riot gear removed protesters blocking the entrance and used pepper spray after some protesters threw objects.
- Protesters repeatedly tried to form human chains at gates and later moved concrete slabs, orange barricades and materials from dumpsters to block another facility entrance late Monday evening.
- Sen. Andy Kim was allowed inside Delaney Hall with a congressional delegation while Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who joined protesters earlier in the day, was denied entry despite requesting to accompany members of Congress.
- Kim attempted to deescalate the confrontation, asking protesters to step back from agents and saying, 'You see how much that they are trying to hide what's happening here,' after emerging from the facility.
- DHS issued an on-the-record statement calling Sherrill's attempted visit 'a political stunt on Memorial Day' and said visitation was suspended due to 'riots' outside, while stating that detainees receive food, water, basic necessities and medical services.
- In response to pregnant protester Gabriela Soto's claim that her husband had been 'kidnapped' while expecting release, DHS said he is an 'illegal alien charged with assault' who was being transferred to another facility when 'agitators obstructed the vehicle's path.'
- The article specifies that relatives of detainees have been protesting since Friday, May 22, 2026, over alleged poor conditions and lack of medical care, and that a new, more organized protest group joined on Monday.
May 25, 2026
8:23 PM
Anti-ICE protesters clash with agents outside New Jersey detention center as Gov Sherrill denied entry
New information:
- On Monday, May 25, 2026, anti-ICE protesters and ICE agents clashed outside Delaney Hall in Newark as demonstrators formed a human chain and blocked access.
- Some protesters threw water at ICE agents and were detained; agents ordered the crowd to move to a grassy area off the road before the situation calmed.
- Gov. Mikie Sherrill said her formal request for access to Delaney Hall was denied on the morning of May 25, and she publicly questioned what facility operators were "trying to hide from public view."
- The article reports that hundreds of detainees inside Delaney Hall are engaged in a hunger and labor strike, and cites a group letter signed by nearly 300 detainees describing conditions as "inhumane" and saying they feel "kidnapped."
- A DHS spokesperson responded that detainees receive three meals a day, clean water, basic necessities and phone access, and asserted that "ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens."
5:40 PM
New Jersey governor, Democratic senator spend Memorial Day protesting ICE facility
New information:
- On Monday, May 25, 2026, Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Sen. Andy Kim returned to Delaney Hall on Memorial Day to meet families of detainees and community advocates outside the facility.
- Kim publicly stated on X that 'Delaney Hall must be shut down immediately' and accused ICE of operating in an unacceptable manner.
- Sherrill reiterated on Sunday, May 24, 2026, that she is 'deeply disturbed' by reported conditions, reaffirmed her opposition to private detention facilities, and said she has contacted ICE to gain access.
- Kim and Rep. Rob Menendez Jr. were denied entry to Delaney Hall when they attempted to visit on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
- The article recalls that the facility was revamped as an immigration detention center in 2025 and notes an ongoing detainee hunger strike over alleged poor conditions.
- The story adds contextual detail on a February 2026 ACLU of New Jersey statement describing Delaney Hall as 'dangerous' and calling out what it termed abusive conditions.
- The piece revisits a May 2025 protest in which Rep. LaMonica McIver allegedly shoved officers to prevent Mayor Ras Baraka's arrest, leading to a current three-count federal indictment for assaulting and impeding federal officers.