Sen. Andy Kim Pepper-Sprayed at Delaney Hall; NJ Gov. Sherrill Delegation Blocked; ICE Agent Caught Pushing Protester Under Tractor-Trailer; Trump Calls Demonstrators 'Paid'

On May 27, 2026, U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill led a congressional delegation to the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark for a legislative oversight inspection, amid the ongoing hunger and labor strike by more than 300 detainees that had entered its sixth day. ICE and GEO Group refused to grant the delegation entry to the facility. During the attempt to access the premises, Senator Kim reported being pepper-sprayed by federal agents — the most serious incident involving an elected official since demonstrations at the facility began May 22. Governor Sherrill and other members of the delegation were similarly refused entry despite the constitutional prerogatives of Members of Congress to inspect federal detention facilities. ICE and DHS did not respond to media inquiries about the incident. President Trump, appearing at a separate event, publicly characterized the protesters outside Delaney Hall as 'paid' demonstrators, offering no evidence for the claim. Separately, video footage that circulated widely on social media appeared to show an ICE agent shoving a protester into the path of a moving tractor-trailer outside the facility — an incident that NJ officials said they intended to refer to law enforcement. Attorneys for the striking detainees reported that most of the 300+ hunger strikers ended that portion of the protest by the end of May 27, while the labor/work strike continued. The facility's suspension of family visitation, implemented after earlier protests, also remained in effect. Senators Kim and Bob Menendez had requested Senate hearings on detention conditions; the May 27 events drew renewed calls from Democratic members for a Senate investigation.