Overview
- Hundreds of detainees launched a coordinated hunger and labor strike that began May 22, stopping work paid at roughly $1–$4 per day and accusing staff of spoiled food, overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and retaliation.
- Protests supporting the strikers have repeatedly clashed with federal and state officers, and Newark's decision to scale back its police presence led to renewed daytime melees and multiple arrests on Friday.
- GEO Group acknowledged a recent “physical altercation” inside Delaney Hall and the limited use of chemical agents by staff while federal officials have issued conflicting statements about the existence and scope of the strike.
- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has sued to compel full state health inspections of Delaney Hall and Newark has signaled it may seek closure, and the state pledged expanded funding for legal aid for detainees.
- Press‑freedom groups have documented dozens of assaults on journalists and incidents of stolen or damaged equipment, and advocates say the situation highlights broader federal oversight gaps for privately run ICE detention centers.