Protests erupted outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where hundreds of migrants have launched a hunger strike to protest alleged poor conditions. The situation intensified when Senator Andy Kim was pepper-sprayed while trying to engage with federal agents and protesters. He described the scene as chaotic, with detainees expressing grievances over inadequate food and lack of due process in their immigration cases. Governor Mikie Sherrill, who was also denied entry to the facility, criticized the federal government's handling of the situation, suggesting they were hiding something. The Department of Homeland Security responded by defending the use of force against protesters, claiming it was necessary to uphold the law. Delaney Hall, which opened in 2025, is part of a contentious $1 billion contract with GEO Group, and has faced ongoing scrutiny from local officials and immigrant rights advocates who demand its closure due to the treatment of detainees. The protests reflect broader tensions surrounding immigration policies and the conditions within detention facilities across the United States.