Editorial note: The following three letters were written and signed by dozens of detainees inside Delaney Hall. The latest was written on May 26, 2026.
El Grito de Nosotros (Our Cry: A letter from inside Delaney Hall)
Through this letter, I would like to describe the situation that thousands of immigrants are currently living through:
First, we’d like to apologize for the way we entered the United States, but we were experiencing safety circumstances that endangered our lives and the lives of some members of our family.
Upon entering, we surrendered ourselves to border authorities who processed us. Some of us were given parole or a court date to continue our cases in accordance with the due process afforded to us by the Constitution and laws of the United States. We also attended periodic check-ins, obtained work permits and social security numbers, filed taxes, and were working legally and contributing to the economy. Therefore, we did not pose a threat to the country or the communities where we resided.
We know that ICE agents have orders to arrest immigrants. In our cases, we had already been processed and were complying with legal requirements. There was no judge’s order for our detention or arrest, since we received a procedural benefit upon our entry, but the ICE officers did not take this into account, nor the fact that we had an immigration court date. They arrested us at scheduled appointments and at USCIS offices.
We have been subjected to court proceedings where lawyers are afraid to represent us because they say there is a presidential order to deport as many people as possible without considering or reviewing each case individually. Judges are denying a large number of cases, dismissing them outright.
Simultaneously, prosecutors are filing motions to send us to Latin American countries like Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras, countries with similar or worse conditions. Even people from those same countries are seeking safety and protection on U.S. soil. In some cases, the motion is to send a person to Uganda to present and defend their asylum case there.
This has forced many to request voluntary departure as the only option to return to their countries of origin, despite the danger we may face, if we are exposed.
In these courts, the judges inform the detainees that they can buy plane tickets to return to their country, but ICE officers refuse this possibility, telling us not to buy those tickets.
Furthermore, there is a contradiction in the processes for voluntary departures and approved deportations, as it takes two, three, or more months of waiting to be sent back to our country of origin.
We feel vulnerable, in a way, kidnapped or detained without justification. We see with profound helplessness and frustration that the right to due process & legal counsel were violated, and benefits granted in the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution were unacknowledged. In addition, families are being destroyed and separated, especially where there are minor children and nephews who are suffering a very strong psychological impact because they do not understand the situation, and in some cases, they were subjected to witnessed the arrests of their wives and fathers, who are devastated by the tragedy and the economic burden, since we are the providers and heads of our households.
Additionally, the ICE agents have arrested people with mental health issues, physical disabilities such as deaf and non-verbal, elderly individuals, and young people with juvenile status, with whom we have to live in the detention centers that are overcrowded. The flu is a constant problem among the detainees, as are stress, fever, and general body aches; which could lead to an outbreak of illness or an epidemic.
In addition to what was previously mentioned in my court hearing with the motion to send me to Ecuador, I did not have an interpreter in my language. I, Leonardo Villalba, with identification number A■■■■■■■■■, take responsibility for this statement, as I do not want my fellow detainees to suffer any consequences. Our American dream is safety and protection – with our families. Although this is a difficult situation, we trust in God and believe in American justice. On the following pages are the signatures of the detainees who will corroborate what has been stated.
S.O.S: A second letter from Delaney Hall
By means of the present, we take the liberty of providing an account of the situation that thousands of immigrants are living in detention centers. In this case, we speak directly of DELANEY HALL NJ 07105.
Initially, we ask for forgiveness for the way we entered the United States, but given the circumstances we were living in our countries, which placed our lives and those of some members of our families in danger.
At the moment of entry, we turned ourselves in to border authorities, who processed us and some of us were granted “parole” or given a court date to continue with our processes, in accordance with the opportunity granted to us by the Constitution and the laws of the United States. Likewise, we had periodic check-ins in order to report to the authorities. We also obtained work permits, Social Security, we filed taxes, and we were working legally and contributing to the country’s economy. We must also mention that within this group there are individuals who crossed the border, integrated into society, formed families, and have lived in the country for 10 years or more with their citizen children, who despite not having legal status have also been paying their annual taxes and have a clean record. We find individuals from the LGBTQ+ community with diagnoses of illnesses such as HIV. cancer, diabetes, heart problems, among others, who are not receiving proper medical attention for the aforementioned conditions.
We know that ICE agents have orders to arrest immigrants, but in our cases we had already been processed, we were complying with legal requirements, and there was no order from a judge for our detention or arrest, since from our entry we received a procedural benefit. However, ICE officers did not take into account the fact that there was already an immigration court date, and they arrested us during check-in appointments at USCIS facilities. Even with credible fear approved, we have been subjected to court proceedings where attorneys are afraid to represent us, because they state that there is a presidential order to deport as many people as possible without reviewing each case individually, where judges are denying a high number of cases, dismissing them.
There are days where judges CHEN SHANA W., HAWKES JOSHUA, and RAMIN RASTEGAB have more than 40 hearings to review and study how due process should be applied, yet within minutes they make final decisions issuing deportations and expulsions. Many hearings are canceled, leaving detainees waiting months for a court date.
In the same way, prosecutors file motions to send individuals to Latin American countries such as ECUADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, and even UGANDA in Africa—countries with equal or worse conditions of violence and persecution from which we are fleeing. Even individuals from those same countries are currently on U.S. soil seeking safety and protection so they may continue defending their immigration cases. This has led many people, under pressure, to accept and sign voluntary departure to their countries of origin at the expense of the danger to which we may be exposed.
In these courts, judges inform the detainee that they can purchase a plane ticket to return to their country of origin, but the ICE officer denies that possibility, evidencing contradictions among government officials themselves.
Likewise, there are cases of individuals who already have their voluntary departure signed and deportations approved by judges, waiting 2 or 3 months to be sent to their country of origin.
We feel vulnerable and, in a way, kidnapped—detained without justification—not to mention that we are being tortured physically and psychologically due to the poor food resources provided in these detention centers. We see with deep helplessness and frustration that our due process, rights, and defense have been violated, disregarding benefits granted under the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments of the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. Families are being destroyed and separated, where there are children, nieces, and minors who are suffering a very strong psychological impact because they do not understand the situation, and in some cases they have witnessed the arrests of their relatives, who have been struck by tragedy and the economic burden, since in most cases we are heads of household.
It is public knowledge that agents have arrested individuals with physical limitations such as: deaf, mute, blind individuals, elderly persons, and even pregnant women.
We see young people with approved juvenile status cases, with whom we are living in detention centers. There is also a high spread of COVID-19 in detention centers, and the flu is constant among detainees, which could lead to outbreaks of illnesses or epidemics.
In addition to the above, in certain courts we do not have interpreters or translators, as was the case of Mr ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■, A■■■■■■■■■, who in his court had a motion for ECUADOR by the judge, since the court did not have a translator or interpreter.
We are certain that we are not being processed equally under immigration laws and the Constitution. We have seen fellow detainees with residency, U visas, T visas, among other similar cases.
We have seen judges in this detention center who are ready to carry out deportations and mass expulsions without properly reviewing cases. We live with anguish and fear of appearing in court.
We are witnessing how judges are disregarding decisions of federal judges, for example not honoring HABEAS CORPUS rulings decided by a FEDERAL judge, depriving us of our liberty.
udges CHEN SHANA W., HAWKES JOSHUA, and RAMIN RASTEGAR accuse us of being a danger to the United States of America or, alternatively, declare that we will flee from immigration agencies, even though they have adequate monitoring tools such as GPS ankle monitors and constant check-ins at immigration offices. There are individuals who have been detained for 5 months or more, who have been denied bond more than once despite having a clean record and an approved HABEAS CORPUS.
We sincerely and earnestly ask for help from Senators, Congress members, foundations, and organizations that collaborate with immigrants.
Our AMERICAN DREAM is the safety and protection of our families. We are in a difficult situation, and we trust in God and believe that justice will be done under the law of the United States of America, since it is a sovereign and constitutional country respected worldwide for upholding human rights.
On the following pages are the signatures of the detainees who certify what is written.
* You can read the letter here and see a scanned paper with the signatures here
Don’t give up: A letter from Delaney Hall
This letter was written in the midst of a massive work & hunger strike inside Delaney Hall. The authors describe the horrific conditions inside the facility, but the strike is not only about the conditions. Those detained at Delaney are demanding their freedom.
Date: May 26, 2026
Location: Delaney Hall Detention Facility – ICE
Communique
We, the detainees at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility, wish to express our objection to the violation of our rights as immigrant human beings. We, the detainees, are demanding our progressive release, based on the fact that our arrests were illegal; immigrants to this country have the right to await our pending immigration proceedings outside of prison; therefore, we demand to be released on bond or parole so that we may complete our proceedings.
Furthermore, we call for greater efficiency in our judicial processes, as well as greater effectiveness and urgency for those who request and sign their voluntary release; we believe it is unjust to keep people who wish to leave of their own free will in custody for up to three months.
In addition to the unlawful and forced detention of most of us who find ourselves locked up here, there is the inhumane treatment that all detainees in this facility endure on a daily basis. The company in charge (GEO) fails to meet the basic conditions necessary to protect our health and our lives. To their administrative incompetence, we must add the following injustices and irregularities perpetrated by ICE and GEO:
- Food containing worms or in a state of decay.
- Unresolved issues, particularly regarding the bathrooms, which are in terrible and inhumane condition.
- Ventilation problems.
- Serious health issues: most people have a persistent flu with phlegm that won’t go away; many have conjunctivitis, urinary tract infections, fever, and coughs.
- Medical care issues:
- If you’re sick, you have to submit a request that takes two weeks to be answered—or you never get a response at all.
- Nurses refuse to treat you right away
- They only prescribe Tylenol for all ailments
- The nurses’ exact words: “We’re not a PHARMACY”
- ICE agents coerce detainees into signing deportation orders
- There is no emergency protocol: in cases of falls or attacks, emergency response arrives an hour late
- Judges’ rulings are highly questionable; most bond requests are denied without legal basis
- Detainees are forced to work, in most cases without pay, or for $1 an hour
We appreciate the support of everyone who is protesting outside the facility. We want you to know that you give us the strength and determination to keep going. Please, DON’T GIVE UP!
We ask all relevant authorities for an urgent response and look forward to hearing from them. With the utmost respect, the detainees at the Delaney Hall facility.
God bless you!
* You can read a scanned PDF of the latest letter here
Featured image: The third and most recent letter from inside Delaney Hall.