Protesters rally through weekend as federal officials return to Delaney Hall detention center
Demonstrators held overnight vigils and blocked facility vehicles as lawmakers conducted oversight visits at Newark’s immigration detention facility.
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Following recent reports of a hunger and labor strike and a Friday rally at Newark’s Delaney Hall Detention Facility, two New Jersey lawmakers returned to the site for a congressional oversight visit Saturday.
U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and Rep. Rob Menendez arrived on Saturday. Menendez later returned for an additional, unannounced visit Sunday night.
Protest activity continued through the weekend, with demonstrators erecting barricades and vowing to maintain a round-the-clock presence in solidarity with detainees inside.
Terri Suess, with Eyes on ICE New Jersey, said the group has maintained overnight vigils for several consecutive days.
“We put the word out and people have been coming every night. So we’ve had three nights of around-the-clock vigils in support of the detainees in there and their hunger strike/labor strike,” Suess said.
Suess said between 60 and 70 people protested Friday and Saturday nights. She expressed concern for detainees’ health, alleging a lack of medical care and warning of potentially fatal consequences.
“These people are suffering, they’re not eating. They’re now on their third day of not eating anything,” she said.
On Sunday, protesters blocked a facility vehicle that contained a detainee identified as the husband of Gabriella Soto. Soto alleged her husband believed he was signing paperwork for his release.
“They knew what they were doing,” Soto said.
When asked where she thought her husband was being taken, Soto said, “I don’t know. To a different state. Usually that’s what happens when you get transferred to a different facility.”
Protesters also called on Governor Mikie Sherrill to visit the detention center. In a statement, Sherrill said, in part, “I have contacted ICE to gain access to the facility and my office remains in close coordination with our federal delegation and with advocates, and I commend their continued oversight and work to hold DHS accountable.”
After his Saturday visit, Sen. Kim said, “We’re going to continue to fight for their rights, fight for their treatment, and make sure that we can do everything we can to restore our country’s rule of law, and our belief in our values in immigration.”
Rep. Menendez returned Sunday night for an unannounced oversight visit and addressed the possibility of Sherrill gaining access to the facility.
“It’s a federal right for federal members of Congress. We’re working with her team. One, we’re staying coordinated every step of the way and then we’re seeing if there’s a possibility for her in this capacity to be able to come in,” Menendez said.
As the protests unfolded, silhouettes of detainees could be seen inside the facility, with some appearing to flash heart signs toward the crowd outside.
ICE has been contacted for comment, but no response has been received.
