In Newark, New Jersey, hundreds of detainees at the ICE jail known as Delaney Hall are continuing their hunger and labor strike, demanding proper food, ventilation and medical care and their release from ICE custody. For five days, demonstrators have been protesting outside the facility in solidarity with the hunger strikers, as federal immigration officers sprayed chemicals and charged at them. The Trump administration continues to deny that a hunger strike is ongoing at the facility. On Wednesday, U.S. Congressmembers Jerry Nadler, Daniel Goldman and Adriano Espaillat entered the facility; Espaillat said he had a court order allowing him to conduct an unannounced visit. This is Congressmember Espaillat.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat: “There is a hunger strike, and repercussions and retaliations have been launched against the people in the hunger strike. We were informed that 13 of them were moved out since the hunger strike began, that there is repercussions and there is retaliations for people in the hunger strike. There is an active hunger strike by both men and women there.”

Even though the Department of Homeland Security has denied a hunger strike is going on, so-called border czar Tom Homan has said they are considering force-feeding prisoners.