Gov. Sherrill talks to protesters, calls for change at Delaney Hall amid hunger strike
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- Governor Mikie Sherill visited Delaney Hall in Newark hours after protesters clashed with ICE agents.
Demonstrators say agents used pepper spray and batons during the scuffle at Delaney Hall in Newark around 1 a.m. Monday.
Gabriela Soto, a 28-year-old mother of two from Kearny whose husband Martin Soto has been detained at Delaney Hall since February, organized the rally.
"We've been working with ICE to get into the facility. I was just denied that this morning. I was hoping and trying. Well, we certainly will. And that's what I've committed to doing, is continuing to try to do that," Gov. Sherrill said.
It was contentious as family members want the governor to do more.
"Four days? Why did it take you so long? People are starving and they're, they're starving," a family member said.
Many relatives were scheduled to see their loved ones Monday and they too were denied, told visitation has been canceled.
Some of the detainees are protesting inside by going on hunger strikes over what they say are poor conditions.
The Department of Homeland Security says there's no such strike.
Eyewitness News heard from one child who said his dad isn't getting his diabetes medicine.
"The people inside Delaney Hall are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and members of our community. In New Jersey, we believe in the rule of law and that everyone deserves to be treated with basic dignity. We have a duty to safeguard the rights, health, and well-being of everyone within our borders," Gov. Sherrill said later in part in a statement.
Jennifer Faura says her husband was detained a week ago during an immigration hearing.
"He should be free. He's a hard working person. Works two jobs, pays taxes like everybody else, you know. So I'm hoping that this will make a great difference for us," Faura said.
Delaney Hall is a privately-run facility with 1,000 beds. There are about 300 detainees inside and they have tablets to communicate with the outside.
Lawmakers say they not only want more oversight of this facility, they want it shut down.
"The reason they want to make this as hard as possible, they won't let the governor in, is because they don't want us to tell the stories of what's happening inside. Because when we tell the stories, everyone in new Jersey and people across the country realize this is not who we are as a country, but a reflection of who we are in this moment under the Trump administration," Congressman Rob Menendez, Jr. said.
"These are not the people that Donald Trump keeps saying that they were trying to lock up. You know, there is a woman that was pregnant that says she's not getting full, OB-GYN care. There is a woman that had a miscarriage that said that she did not get the care that she needed, and was left to be able to manage that on her own," Sen. Andy Kim said.
On Saturday, Menendez and Kim visited the detention center to support detainees who are complaining that the food being served is spoiled.
The governor said she wants Delaney Hall closed and is working to prevent a second facility in Roxbury from opening. As for the people out protesting, they say they have no plans to let up.
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