Protesters outside a New Jersey migrant detention center where a hunger strike is under way alleged that US immigration agents deployed pepper spray and batons against them during a demonstration on Monday.

The protesters tried to stop ICE from transferring Martin Soto – who announced the strike – but officials said that they were able to move him to the Elizabeth contract detention facility.

Demonstrators claimed that the incident unfolded early this morning outside Delaney Hall in Newark, which has been roiled by an ongoing hunger strike, ABC 7 reported. Protesters have stood outside Delaney Hall since Friday.

Tensions mounted late on Sunday, however, when dozens of protesters heard that guards were preparing to move detainee Soto – who on Friday announced a hunger and work strike. The strike is demanding the immediate release of elderly and young detainees, as well as those with medical conditions, according to the City.

Soto’s wife, Gabriela, has been organizing protests outside the facility. Gabriela , 28, tried visiting him on Sunday and as she was in the queue, spotted a man being pushed into a van.

Some visitors to Delaney Hall told Gabriela, who is reportedly several months pregnant with their third child, that this was Martin and she rushed toward the vehicle, the City reported.

“I was banging on the door of the van,” she told the news outlet. “I was not letting that happen.”

“They were pulling and dragging him into the van,” she also told CBS News. “He was banging on the window. He was screaming and banging on the window. That’s why everyone here is blocking it because they’re not going to let my husband be deported or sent away.”

Demonstrators gathered with Gabriela, blocking the entrance to stop Martin from being transferred. “Free Martin!” Gabriela and the crowd reportedly shouted. “Free them all!”

At about 1am Monday, ICE agents blocked the roadway along Delaney Hall’s back gate, Gothamist reported, seemingly to let out ICE vehicles. Demonstrators confronted ICE agents and some tried blocking their vehicles.

ICE agents allegedly responded by clearing the area with force, pushing them on to sidewalks and shoving them into parked cars, Gothamist said. The website reported that at least one demonstrator was pepper sprayed and one suffered a leg injury.

Laura Herman, who serves as legal director of the advocacy organization Make The Road New Jersey, said that lawyers had communicated with the US attorney’s office. The US attorney’s office claimed he would not be transferred Sunday because of a federal judge’s order prohibiting him from being moved out of state as his habeas petition proceeds through court, according to the City.

The hunger and work strike unfolded after about 300 detainees signed a letter alleging that Delaney Hall was rife with poor conditions and insufficient medical care. Gabriela Soto has alleged that agents had retaliated against Martin because of her advocacy.

Gabriela alleged that they held Martin in a cell for eight hours on Friday and grilled him on her efforts.

“‘If we release you now, will you tell your wife to stop this protest? Did you know that your wife was organizing this protest? He said ‘no comment,’’” Gabriela Soto recalled to the City. She alleged that guards also asked her husband: “‘Are you the one organizing the strike inside?’”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the agents’ actions and said that they managed to transfer Martin despite demonstrations.

“On May 24, 2026, approximately 125 agitators surrounded Delaney Hall Detention Facility. They formed a human chain around entrances to the facility and set up barricades, blocking all entries and exits,” a DHS spokesperson said.

“Around 4.30pm, Martin Alonso Soto Hernandez, an illegal alien charged with assault, was scheduled for a transfer to another ICE detention facility, but agitators obstructed the vehicle’s path, preventing the transfer, and struck the vehicle with unidentified objects, causing significant damage,” the statement continued.

“Later in the evening, ICE successfully dispersed approximately 70 agitators and removed the barricades obstructing operations and were able to transfer Soto Hernandez to the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility.”

“Visitation has been suspended out of an abundance of caution to ensure the continued safety of staff, detainees, and visitors,” DHS said.

GEO Group, which runs the facility, said they are “proud of the role our company has played for 40 years to support the law enforcement mission of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)” and insisted prisoners were cared for properly.

“The support services GEO provides include around-the-clock access to medical care, in-person and virtual legal and family visitation, general and legal library access, translation services, dietician-approved meals, religious and specialty diets, recreational amenities, and opportunities to practice their religious beliefs,” a spokesperson said, saying that all of Geo’s ICE centers were accredited by several industry organizations.

New Jersey senator Andy Kim and Governor Mikie Sherrill were outside the facility Monday morning to speak with detainees’ relatives.

“I’m back at Delaney Hall with @GovSherrillNJ and other members of the NJ delegation to meet with families of detainees and listen to community advocates,” Kim said on X. “We’re working together to make sure they’re heard and to speak out with them.
Delaney Hall must be shut down immediately. ICE cannot be allowed to continue operating in this way.”