White House border czar Tom Homan made an unannounced inspection of the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, over the weekend, directly challenging claims made by Democratic lawmakers and activists regarding conditions within the center. Homan's visit included a comprehensive tour of the facility and a direct interaction with detainees, culminating in him sharing a meal in the cafeteria.
"I even made a surprise visit this weekend, and walked into the cafeteria, and ate the same meal that the detainees around me were eating." — Tom Homan, White House Border Czar
Upon his arrival, Homan bypassed any prior notification, walking directly into the facility. He methodically toured various sections, including the medical unit, outdoor recreation areas, and indoor recreation spaces. His inspection culminated in the cafeteria, where he obtained a tray of food and sat among the detainees. "I made sure my tray equaled their tray," Homan told Fox News following the visit. The meal consisted of spaghetti and meat sauce, beans, green beans, bread and rolls, a beverage, and dessert. Homan's assessment of the food was unequivocal: "The food was good," he stated flatly.
This firsthand account from a high-ranking White House official directly contradicts allegations from several prominent Democratic lawmakers. U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler had claimed that detainees were being served food containing maggots. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had also issued a statement asserting that his office had uncovered "unsanitary living conditions, lack of adequate medical care and unhealthy food" at Delaney Hall. Homan addressed these specific claims, stating they were unfounded based on his observations.
Beyond the food quality, Democrats and activists have also propagated a narrative suggesting that detainees at Delaney Hall initiated a hunger strike to protest what they described as inhumane conditions. Homan refuted this claim as well. "It’s all a false premise," he asserted. "There was never a hunger strike." According to Homan, investigators found that detainees were actively purchasing and consuming food from the facility’s commissary throughout the entire period the alleged strike was said to be occurring. This was corroborated by a source familiar with the situation, who confirmed to the Daily Wire that the commissary had actually experienced an "increase in sales and detainees maxing out on items they can purchase weekly" during the supposed hunger strike.
Scott Mechkowski, a former ICE New York field office deputy director, echoed Homan's skepticism regarding the hunger strike claims. "I’ve seen real hunger strikes during my time as an ICE official, managing detention facilities," Mechkowski told the Daily Wire. "What’s happening at Delaney Hall is not a hunger strike. When detainees are buying up Honey Buns and Snickers bars, and those with money are helping others get snacks, that’s not a hunger strike, it’s just a publicity stunt."
Despite Homan's findings, calls for the facility's closure persist from several New Jersey officials. Governor Mikie Sherrill has demanded that Delaney Hall be shut down entirely. Homan responded to this demand directly, stating, "That facility isn’t going anywhere. We’re going to enforce the law. We’re going to detain people." New Jersey Senator Andy Kim also toured the facility and subsequently called for its permanent closure on X, writing, "What I witnessed and experienced today was shameful. Delaney Hall is a failure; it’s this administration’s failure. The only way to make this right for our communities is to shut it down and make sure the failures we’ve seen never happen again." Separately, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has announced the city's intention to pursue legal action to close the center, citing health and safety concerns, as reported by News Nation.
Homan highlighted that a substantial number of individuals held at Delaney Hall are subject to federal mandatory detention orders, meaning their confinement is legally mandated. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified before Congress that since Delaney Hall reopened in 2025, the facility has recorded zero health department violations. Delaney Hall is privately operated by the GEO Group under a federal contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has an authorized capacity to house up to 1,196 detainees. The ongoing debate underscores the broader national conversation surrounding immigration enforcement and the conditions within federal detention facilities.
