Tension is growing around the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where hundreds of detained migrants are holding a hunger and work strike to denounce conditions inside the facility, according to family members, activists and state legislators.

The protest began on Friday and continued into the weekend, as support groups gathered in front of the building to demand access to the center and demand the release of vulnerable people. According to reports from different national media, detainees report overcrowding, spoiled food, lack of medical care and prolonged delays in their immigration processes.

Delaney Hall is a facility located in Newark and operated by GEO Group under contract to ICE. The center had already been under public scrutiny over previous complaints about detention conditions and protests by immigrant rights organizations.

You can see: Hunger strike continues at New Jersey ICE center during inspection of congressmen

Legislators requested access to the center

The case gained greater visibility after Democratic legislators from New Jersey visited the scene. Senator Andy Kim and Congressman Rob Menendez spoke with detainees and expressed concern about the testimonies received, as reported by Gothamist.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also attempted to enter the center on Monday, but was denied access for security reasons, according to local reports.

Clashes outside Delaney Hall

During the protests this Monday, clashes were reported between protesters and federal agents in front of the center. ABC7NY reported that a chemical substance was sprayed during the crashes, although it was not clear who used it or what type of chemical it was.

The Department of Homeland Security maintained that agents followed protocols and accused protesters of blocking access and damaging vehicles. Activists, on the other hand, denounced excessive use of force and reprisals against detainees.

DHS denies activists' version

The Department of Homeland Security has rejected part of the complaints and, according to reports, denied that there is a widespread strike within the center. Immigrant and family defense organizations maintain the opposite and affirm that the protest involves nearly 300 detainees.

For now, the versions remain conflicting. What is confirmed is that Delaney Hall was once again at the center of a major dispute over the conditions of immigration detention in the United States, while relatives of the detainees ask for information, access and independent supervision.

How many migrants are there in Delaney Hall and why it was already under scrutiny

Delaney Hall is one of the largest immigration detention centers on the East Coast of the United States. The facility has capacity for up to 1,000 detainees, according to official information from the federal government itself.

According to activists and media following the case, the current protest would involve around 300 migrants, although the Department of Homeland Security questions that figure and rejects that it is widespread.

As we said, it is not the first time that Delaney Hall has been at the center of controversy. Since its reopening as an immigration detention center, the facility has faced questions from local authorities, legislators and civil rights organizations over complaints about internal conditions, legal access and supervision.

The magnitude of the center also made it a key piece within the federal government's immigration detention strategy in the northeast of the country. For this reason, the magnifying glass on Delaney Hall and the evolution of the conflict keeps immigrants in different states in suspense.