Trump Border Czar Vows to Force-Feed ICE Detainees in Escalating Immigration Crackdown
President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, triggered new outrage on Tuesday, May 26, after saying ICE detainees on hunger strike could be force-fed “if it gets bad enough.” His remarks came as protests intensified outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where detainees, attorneys and advocates have accused authorities of inhumane conditions, inadequate medical care and abusive treatment.
Speaking on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, Homan defended ICE detention standards and rejected claims that facilities are substandard. He said ICE facilities meet what he described as the “highest detention standards in the industry,” adding that ICE has fewer deaths in custody than state prisons or federal lockups. Homan also dismissed the hunger strike reports, saying such actions “never work” and that the agency would not alter its operations because detainees stopped eating. He later said that if detainees were in severe medical danger, officials would seek a court order to force-feed them.
The controversy escalated on Monday, May 25, when demonstrators blocked an entrance to Delaney Hall. Federal agents in riot gear responded with armored vehicles, pepper balls and chemical agents after protesters allegedly threw objects toward officers. New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim said he witnessed “chaos inside and outside” the facility. His office said pepper balls were fired near him, and video later showed him rinsing his eyes with water. Kim said detainees were protesting lack of due process, poor food and harsh treatment, while families and advocates outside were calling for help. He criticized ICE for sending in armed agents instead of addressing concerns about conditions.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill also visited the site but said federal authorities denied her entry. She argued that the situation underscores why private mass detention facilities should not be used.
Attorneys and family members representing detainees described worsening conditions inside Delaney Hall. Selenia Destefani, managing attorney at Nova Law Group, said detainees had been served expired food and meals “with worms in them.” Relatives also alleged that detainees with serious medical needs were not receiving proper care. One family member said a detained relative with diabetes was not being allowed medication. Rep. Analilia Mejia said a pregnant detainee suffering abdominal pain did not receive medical treatment. Another detainee’s wife accused authorities of misleading her husband during a transfer and said he was shoved and thrown into a van.
The Department of Homeland Security denied the allegations and disputed that a hunger strike was taking place at all. DHS said detainees receive three meals a day, clean water, bedding, showers, toiletries and healthcare. GEO Group, which operates Delaney Hall, said the facility is regularly monitored by ICE and DHS to ensure compliance with federal standards.
Critics say the unrest reflects deeper systemic problems in immigration detention. Sen. Kim called Delaney Hall “a failure” and said it should be shut down to prevent similar problems from happening again.
