Protesters say agents used pepper spray and batons in clash outside Delaney Hall where a hunger strike is under way

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/25/new-jersey-ice-immigration-protest

Protesters outside a New Jersey migrant detention center where a hunger strike is under way alleged that US immigration agents deployed pepper spray and batons against them during a demonstration on Monday.

…

Tensions mounted late on Sunday, however, when dozens of protesters heard that guards were preparing to move detainee Soto – who on Friday announced a hunger and work strike. The strike is demanding the immediate release of elderly and young detainees, as well as those with medical conditions, according to The City.

  • ignirtoq@feddit.onlineEnglish
    6·
    9 hours ago

    Some details that seemed important to me:

    The protesters tried to stop ICE from transferring Martin Soto – who announced the strike – but officials said that they were able to move him to the Elizabeth contract detention facility.

    Laura Herman, who serves as legal director of the advocacy organization Make The Road New Jersey, said that lawyers had communicated with the US attorney’s office. The US attorney’s office claimed he would not be transferred Sunday because of a federal judge’s order prohibiting him from being moved out of state as his habeas petition proceeds through court, according to the City.

    So federal court has forbidden them from transferring him out of state, and they decide to transfer him. They moved him to another ICE facility in New Jersey (where he was initially), so this doesn’t break that order, but who would trust ICE to do that?