An exclusive report highlights revenue figures from the Delaney Hall ICE detention center’s commissary, potentially contradicting claims made by Democrats regarding a reported hunger strike at the Newark facility. Despite allegations of dire conditions and rotten food, commissary spending surged during the strike period, according to a source familiar with the facility’s operations.
The source revealed that during the alleged hunger strike, Delaney Hall’s commissary, where detainees can buy snacks and toiletries, saw its revenue triple. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supported this claim, sharing data with Fox News Digital that showed detainees continued purchasing significant amounts of food from the commissary.
Regional news outlets, like Gothamist, reported that detainees initiated a hunger and labor strike around May 23. Following these reports, Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., visited the facility and was caught in a pepper-spray incident involving outside agitators and ICE agents. Similarly, lawmakers such as Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-N.J., echoed the concerns.
On May 26, Delaney Hall housed 724 individuals, with commissary revenue reaching $11,498 for the prior week. As the strike period advanced, these figures increased significantly. By June 1, the detainee population decreased to 621, but weekly commissary sales soared to over $30,000. DHS officials suggested detainees might have opted for snacks instead of their scheduled meals.
Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Bis commented, “The hunger strike hoax was actually just Delaney Hall detainees trading nutritious meals for Honey Buns and Hot Cheetos.” She urged politicians to focus on collaborating with DHS to address issues involving criminal illegal aliens.
Secretary Markwayne Mullin added during a congressional testimony that complaints stemmed from detainees preferring cuisines from their home countries over Americanized fare.
A commissary menu revealed various items available for purchase, including Cheetos, summer sausage and Hawaiian Punch. Recent visits by Rep. Herb Conaway Jr., D-N.J., alongside Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., showed less pointed characterizations of the facility’s conditions. Despite expressing outrage over reports of inhumane conditions, Conaway did not observe major concerns during his tour.
Conaway, a physician, acknowledged detainees’ concerns about health and family separation, urging state authorities to conduct a thorough review of the facility.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., offered a differing viewpoint during his tour. He criticized the center’s food quality, schedules and alleged sanitation issues, although these allegations were denied by DHS officials. Observations of ambulances transporting detainees contradicted claims about inadequate medical treatment.
Despite the varied assessments, DHS officials pointed to commissary figures as evidence against widespread food refusal during the purported hunger strike.