Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAlex WoodwardWednesday 27 May 2026 21:29 BSTMarkwayne Mullin tells hunger striking ICE detainees 'this isn't Holiday Inn'Immigrant detainees at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, are on the sixth day of a hunger and labor strike, involving approximately 300 individuals, to protest alleged unconstitutional and inhumane conditions, including rotting food, due process violations, and lack of legal counsel.Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin dismissed the detainees' complaints, suggesting they were striking for “ethnic food” and stating they could “go back to their country” for it, while Donald Trump labeled the supporting protesters as “fake” and “paid for,” defending the facilities as world-class.Protests outside Delaney Hall have led to clashes between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and demonstrators, resulting in two arrests for assaulting federal officers and reports of ICE deploying pepper spray and pepper balls into crowds.New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim was hit by chemical agents during a protest, prompting him to call Delaney Hall a “failure” and demand its immediate closure, a sentiment echoed by fellow New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who described the facility as a “moral assault.”Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed facility operated by private contractor GEO Group under a 15-year, $1 billion contract, opened on May 1, 2025, and is part of a larger system facing increasing scrutiny and lawsuits over conditions, with the administration expecting to deport 1 million people annually.In fullMarkwayne Mullin tells hunger strikers in ICE detention center ‘this isn’t a Holiday Inn’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in