Anti-ICE agitators continue to clash with federal agents outside an illegal alien detention center in Newark, N.J., Thursday.
EXCLUSIVE:Revenue figures from the Delaney HallICEdetention center’s commissary may undercut Democrats’ claims that a reported "hunger strike" is rippling through the Newark facility. as commissary spending surged during the reported strike period.
A slew ofDemocrats have toured the facilityand reported allegedly dire conditions. rotten food, but a source familiar with Delaney Hall’s operations disputed their claims.
The source said Delaney Hall’s commissary — where inmates can purchase snacks. sundries — saw its revenue triple during the time period characterized by a hunger strike.
When asked about the claim, the Department ofHomeland Securitybacked it up. shared revenue data with Fox News Digital that supported the argument that detainees continued purchasing substantial amounts of food from the commissary during the reported hunger strike period.
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Protestors, politicians. ICE agents gather outside Delaney Hall, an immigration facility in Newark, N.J., on May 27, 2026.(Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
Regional news outlets like Gothamist reported that men housed at Delaney Hall had begun a hunger. labor strike around May 23.
Soon after,Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., went to the center, echoed those reports. was later caught in pepper-spray crossfire when outside agitators sparred with ICE agents guarding the entrance.
Other lawmakers like Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. and Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-N.J., made similar assertions.
On Thursday, a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital the claims have been a "hoax". provided data that lined up with what the source familiar had said.
On May 26, Delaney Hall housed 724 individuals and its commissary took in $11,498 in revenue for the prior week.
As the hunger strike period progressed, that number shot up week over week.
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On June 1, the population inside had decreased to 621, but the commissary recorded weekly sales topping $30,000.
Despite a 14% drop in detainee population, commissary revenue nearly tripled,. DHS officials suggested that detainees involved in the "strike" were instead eschewing their scheduled meals in exchange for snacks.
"The hunger strike hoax was actually just Delaney Hall detainees trading nutritious meals for Honey Buns. Hot Cheetos," Deputy Press Secretary Lauren Bis said.
"It’s time for sanctuary politicians to drop the political theater. work with us to get criminal illegal aliens out of our communities."
Bis was backed up by her boss. Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who testified before Congress that much of the dispute stemmed from inmates balking at Americanized fare that did not match foods from their home countries.
Mullin quipped that Delaney Hall is not intended to be a "Holiday Inn."
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A commissary menu provided by DHS showed scores of items inmates are able to purchase, including lotions,birthday cards, Cheetos, summer sausage. Hawaiian Punch.
Characterizations of the facility's conditions were also less pointed this week after Rep. Herb Conaway Jr., D-N.J., discussed his Wednesday tour with neighboring Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J.
Conaway, who represents Kim’s former Burlington County district, said in a statement he was "horrified. outraged" by reports of inhumane conditions and alleged lack ofdue process.
Protestors, politicians. ICE agents gathered outside Delaney Hall, an immigration facility in Newark, N.J., on May 27, 2026.(Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
Conaway — who is a physician — said he. Norcross toured the mess hall and infirmary, and while he demanded ICE shut the facility down until Trenton officials can conduct a formal inspection and review, he did not witness "major concerns" during the visit.
"I had the opportunity, along with Congressman Norcross, to meet with about 20 women. Some have been here for over a year. Others have been a certain several months. Many of them had concerns, a lot of concerns. Some regarding their health. Most had family members, children; loved ones outside of this facility. certainly they miss them very deeply and want to get back to their lives," Conaway said in a separate recorded statement outside the gate.
"It’s critical that the appropriate state authorities get into this building. get into this right away, do their job, and then let the public understand what's going on. I think that'll be better for everybody if that's done."
Last week, Rep.Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., joined other lawmakers on a separate tour and offered a different assessment:
Nadler began speaking out againstconditions at the centerbefore he even reached the microphone, alleging the "food is very sparse". that inmates eat only at 4 a.m., noon and 4 p.m.
ICE agents aside from New Jersey Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill.(Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital; Governor Mikie Sherrill)
"And very often, they eat maggots in the food," he said, making an allegation denied by DHS officials.
He also claimed medical services were limited. that inmates were waiting a long time for treatment, an allegation protesters alsoshouted at ICE agents laterin the day.
However, ambulances from a local Newark hospital regularly arrived throughout the day on Wednesday. Thursday, appearing to contradict claims that detainees were not receiving treatment.
With lawmakers like Nadler alleging sparse food. unsanitary conditions, DHS officials argued that the commissary figures undercut claims that detainees were broadly refusing food during the reported hunger strike.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles coversmedia,politicsand culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
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