UMVA has learned that President Donald Trump dismissed the demonstrators outside Delaney Hall as “fake” and “paid for,” even as protests surged at the Newark ICE detention facility and Democratic lawmakers intensified their scrutiny of the center’s conditions.
During a Cabinet meeting, Trump insisted, “These aren’t protesters; these people are fake, they’re all paid for,” before adding that the United States operates “the finest facilities anywhere in the world of their type.”
Meanwhile, families and detainees have been crying out about chronic overcrowding, deteriorating living spaces, and medical care that borders on neglect. Some inmates have even begun a hunger strike, a stark signal of desperation that Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey confirmed.
The tension escalated Wednesday when Representatives Daniel Goldman and Jerrold Nadler entered the facility under heavy guard, their presence underscoring the growing political firestorm surrounding the detention center.
Protests erupted Friday and have persisted daily, at times spiraling into chaos as demonstrators clashed with ICE agents. On Sunday night, activists tried to block all vehicle traffic in and out of the complex, turning the perimeter into a volatile battleground.
Monday brought a harsher crackdown: officers unleashed tear gas and physically removed protesters, footage showing one demonstrator being thrown to the ground and another dragged away from the entrance.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the facility, bluntly stating, “This isn’t a Holiday Inn,” when pressed about complaints, and he brushed off criticism from elected officials who have visited the site.
When asked about Senator Kim’s encounter with pepper spray outside the center, Mullin responded coldly, “I’m sorry, you probably shouldn’t have been there,” a remark that only fueled the perception of indifference.
Kim recounted a harrowing scene: detainees handed him a carton of milk that had turned into a solid, foul mass, a vivid illustration of the alleged neglect.
ICE officials continue to deny any allegations of unsafe or inhumane conditions, maintaining that the facility meets all required standards despite the mounting evidence and public outcry.
