Notes from on the ground outside Delaney Hall
Scene at 11:00 pm on May 26, 2026 outside Delany Hall where tensions are at a high point between protesters and ICE agents. Photo Credit - Ryan Novosielski.
Reports from the field by Ryan Novosielski:
5.29.26
A week ago, Delaney Hall, in Newark, NJ, became a ground zero for grassroots resistance in support of a hunger and labor strike inside the facility. Detainees outlined their reasons for the strike as a response to the egregious and inhumane conditions that they were being forced to endure inside the facility.
On Friday, “detainees inside the facility launched a hunger and labor strike led by Martin Soto, in the early morning hours, and we came out to stand in solidarity,” said Ryan Novosielski.
Novosielski has been part of continuous protests calling for the closure of the facility for over a year.
The number of community members grew steadily over the week, with members of several Newark-based organizations and residents adding to the human wall in solidarity with the detainees. Groups like Pax Christi, People’s Organization for Progress, SEIU, CWA, CosechaNJ, and the Progressive Labor Party.
On Sunday morning, the tension was heightened by news of the transfer of Martin Soto, one of the strike's leaders. Members of the community allied to hold the transport van from leaving the gate, which exploded into a clash between protesters and ICE.
By Monday afternoon, elected officials, including Governor Sherrill, State Senator Ruiz, Congresswoman McIver, and Senator Andy Kim, arrived at the scene after massive calls by protesters and media for them to address the dire conditions of detainees and the draconian response from ICE. Their visits further escalated the scene with ICE spraying teargas and pepper spray across the crowd.
“Over 300 people [detainees] signed a letter that highlighted the denial of medical care, the indefinite form of detention they are enduring, and the lack of sufficient food. These are all documented textbook forms of torture,” said Kathy O’Leary, Pax Christi.
By Tuesday, the tension ratcheted up, and a member of the People’s Organization was targeted, grabbed, and taken away. Adam Marshall was later found several towns away and returned to Delaney Hall after a medical review.
The crowds have grown, and the tension has heightened over the last couple of days.
Reports from the field indicate ICE beatings of detainees in their cells have sent several to the hospital. Similar reports have recorded protesters being beaten, as well.
It’s Friday, and protesters are making the same calls to the wider community to join them on the ground in support of the detainees' calls to end their detention.
“The struggle of the incarcerated workers inside Delaney Hall shows us the continued power of everyday people to shake the foundations of this parasitic system that relies on fear and lack of collective consciousness to keep all working people divided and down. Our biggest challenge now is to link the struggles of unemployed and underemployed black and brown Newark citizens with those of undocumented workers who are also unemployed and underemployed,” said Professor Margaret Stevens.
Public Square Amplified Reporter-in-the-field will continue to collect updates on his observations.
5.27.26
At 10:55 p.m, ICE agents grabbed and took Adam Marshall, who is a volunteer medic and was handing out water to the citizens gathered to support the families outside of Delaney Hall. Adam Marshall is a long-time activist who appeared to have been targeted by ICE agents tonight. Currently, there are some 75 ICE agents on the ground, and over 200 activists.
