HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

A living database documenting reported immigration enforcement incidents and their human impact.

Delaney Hall

Newark, New Jersey · 49 well-documented stories

What stands out here

Conditions that appear in a larger share of this facility's stories than of facility stories in general. Stories run from May 2025 to Oct 2026.

  1. Hunger strike20% vs 2%

    The person or a group refused food in protest.

  2. Food or water withheld14% vs 10%

    The person went without food or water for an extended period, or was given spoiled or inadequate food.

  3. Force on family or bystanders12% vs 2%

    Physical force was used on a relative, child, observer, or bystander, not only the arrest target.

  4. Abuse or threats by staff12% vs 6%

    Beatings, threats, humiliation, slurs, or theft by guards or staff.

  5. Pepper spray, tear gas, or taser10% vs 2%

    Agents used pepper spray, tear gas, a taser, or similar on the person or a crowd.

share of stories hereacross all facilities

Everything the stories describe here

  • Hunger strike · 10 stories

    The person or a group refused food in protest.

  • Medical requests ignored · 8 stories

    Requests for care, a doctor, or an emergency response were refused, delayed, or dismissed.

  • Food or water withheld · 7 stories

    The person went without food or water for an extended period, or was given spoiled or inadequate food.

  • Force on family or bystanders · 6 stories

    Physical force was used on a relative, child, observer, or bystander, not only the arrest target.

  • Abuse or threats by staff · 6 stories

    Beatings, threats, humiliation, slurs, or theft by guards or staff.

  • Pepper spray, tear gas, or taser · 5 stories

    Agents used pepper spray, tear gas, a taser, or similar on the person or a crowd.

  • Injury needing medical treatment · 5 stories

    The person or a bystander was hurt badly enough to need medical care.

  • Punished for complaining or organizing · 5 stories

    Isolation, transfer, lost privileges, or threats after the person complained, filed a grievance, spoke to media, organized, or joined a hunger strike.

  • Tackled, pinned, or thrown down · 5 stories

    The person was tackled, slammed, pinned to the ground, or thrown against a surface.

  • Died in custody or soon after · 4 stories

    The person died while detained, during transport, or within days of release or deportation.

  • Solitary confinement · 4 stories

    Placed in isolation or segregation.

  • Overcrowding · 4 stories

    Held in a space far over capacity: a holding cell, a bus, an airport facility, a tent.

  • Extreme heat or cold · 3 stories

    Held in a freezing or dangerously hot space (hieleras, no heat, no air conditioning in summer).

  • Medication withheld · 3 stories

    Prescribed medication (insulin, HIV drugs, psychiatric medication, seizure drugs, chemotherapy) was taken, withheld, or not provided.

  • Family not told · 1 story

    Relatives were not informed of the arrest, a transfer, a hospitalization, or a death, or learned of it from the press or other detainees.

  • Shackled or chained · 1 story

    Shackled, chained, zip-tied for long periods, restrained during transport or medical care, or held in a restraint chair.

  • Pregnant or postpartum in custody · 1 story

    The detained person was pregnant, miscarried, gave birth, or was postpartum or breastfeeding while held.

  • Sexual abuse or harassment · 1 story

    Sexual assault, abuse, coercion, or harassment by staff or others while in custody.

In their words

“The interview itself was cold and hostile. The officer was rude, dismissive and wouldn't even allow me to look at my husband when telling our love story. When I expressed how deeply I love him and found no flaws in him, I was scolded and told that no one is perfect.”
Matthew Marrero · read
“I was violently attacked by ICE agents while I was trying to provide medical care for people visiting their loved ones in Delaney Hall.”
Dr. Norma Bowe · read
“I will not let his story be unheard, I want his voice to be heard loud and clear,”
Lopez Cornejo's 12-year-old daughter · read

Stories

Where people stood at the latest report

Each square is one percent of these stories. Read it with care: people who are still detained or already deported have far less access to reporters and lawyers than people who were released, so this mix reflects who gets covered more than how cases end.

  • Died 8%
  • Still detained 41%
  • Released 29%
  • Unknown 22%