NEWARK, N.J. (AP) 鈥� Democratic members of Congress on Wednesday said they observed dire conditions within a federal immigration detention center in New Jersey where protesters have been and asserting that detainees are on a hunger strike.
U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, a Manhattan Democrat, said detainees at are being given small portions of food that 鈥渧ery often鈥� contain maggots and that the only medication they receive is Tylenol.
One woman, he said, had a lump in her breast but was still waiting on a mammogram more than a month into her detention. Another detainee was suffering from colon cancer but wasn鈥檛 receiving any treatment.
鈥淭he bottom line is, if you are human, if you are American, you cannot support what is going on here,鈥� said U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, another Manhattan Democrat who toured the facility Wednesday. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e living in jail conditions, and none of these people are criminals.鈥�
U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, another Manhattan Democrat, described conditions as 鈥渋nhumane” after spending about an hour inside the facility,
鈥淲e will shut this center down,” he vowed. 鈥淲e will shut it down.鈥�
The lawmakers addressed protesters and family members of detainees demonstrating outside the facility鈥檚 security gate after their visits.
More than 50 people held signs saying 鈥淪top Family Separation鈥� and chanted 鈥淔ree Them All鈥� and other slogans. Some shouted directly at the armed and helmet-wearing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers standing outside, calling them 鈥渃owards鈥� and 鈥渋diots.鈥�
The protests began Friday and have been tense at times.
On Monday, U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, said he was pepper-sprayed as he and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill led a delegation of Democratic officials who tried to visit detainees at Delaney Hall but were denied entry.
鈥淚nstead of engaging with me and others about the poor conditions, ICE sent in an armored vehicle and a line of armed agents that only poured gasoline on the fire,鈥� Kim posted on social media after Monday鈥檚 clashes. 鈥淐ivilians were tackled and restrained, and agents fired pepper balls and spray into the crowd.鈥�
Gabriela Soto said Wednesday that her husband was among the detainees who participated in the hunger strike before he was transferred to another facility.
鈥淎t first it was just 300. Then it became a little bit more. Now, every single detainee inside there is participating. Every single one,鈥� she said, wearing a black shirt that said 鈥淎bolish ICE.鈥�
Amol Sinha, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said his organization has heard 鈥渉orror stories鈥� of detainees, including pregnant women, not getting the proper medical treatment for their health conditions.
鈥淐ruelty is the point,鈥� he said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has denied any hunger strike, abuse or poor conditions inside the center and dismissed the criticisms as political posturing.
鈥淭he fact is, we鈥檙e giving them the calories they want,鈥� Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Wednesday of detainees at Delaney Hall. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 Holiday Inn.鈥�
In a follow-up statement, DHS said two protesters were arrested for assaulting, resisting and impeding federal officers after ICE officers were sprayed 鈥渨ith an unknown chemical substance鈥� Tuesday night.
鈥淭hese rioters have OBSTRUCTED law enforcement operations 鈥� a felony and a crime,鈥� the statement read. 鈥淟ocal police have refused to answer calls to help our law enforcement. We will not allow violent rioters to slow ICE down. Law and order will be restored.鈥�
President Donald Trump defended the center’s operations and criticized opponents.
鈥淲e run the finest facilities anywhere in the world of their type,鈥� Trump said during a Cabinet meeting with Mullin. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nobody that runs a facility like we do.鈥�
Located along an industrial stretch of Newark Bay and run by a private prison company, Delaney Hall has been a frequent flashpoint of protests and clashes between immigrant rights advocates and immigration enforcement officials.
and , a New Jersey Democrat, were among those arrested during protests when the 1,000-bed facility opened last May.
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Marcelo reported from New York. Associated Press photographer Seth Wenig in Newark contributed to this story.
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