A sprawling network of activist organizations has helped fuel the ongoing protests outside Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, according to a Fox News Digital investigation that argues the demonstrations are part of a coordinated campaign rather than a spontaneous grassroots movement.
The report traces the latest wave of anti-ICE protests to June 3, when organizers used social media and encrypted messaging platforms to mobilize supporters outside the facility. An Instagram post declaring “CURFEW IS OVER. BACK TO DELANEY” circulated among activist circles, while discussions on Signal reportedly coordinated transportation, supplies, and logistics for demonstrators heading to the site.
Delaney Hall has emerged as one of the country’s most visible flashpoints in the debate over immigration enforcement. The facility reopened in 2025 under a federal contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, drawing immediate opposition from local activists, immigrant-rights organizations, and Democratic officials.
According to the investigation, roughly 100 organizations are involved in varying degrees with the movement surrounding Delaney Hall. The groups range from immigrant-rights advocates and faith-based organizations to progressive political groups and socialist organizations. Fox News Digital reported that together these organizations generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.
The report also points to a communications strategy document known as the “Delaney Hall Creator Brief,” which allegedly provides activists with suggested language and messaging. According to the document, organizers are encouraged to describe the detention center in highly critical terms and frame detainees as victims of government overreach.
Critics of the movement argue that the protests are part of a broader effort to challenge federal immigration enforcement and influence public opinion through coordinated activism.
“These are manufactured strategic, calculated endeavors by an army of nonprofits meant to push subversive activity,” nonprofit expert and former U.S. Senate chief of staff Chuck Flint told Fox News Digital.
Supporters of the demonstrations, however, maintain that they are drawing attention to the treatment of detainees and conditions inside immigration facilities. Many groups involved have long advocated for immigration reform and reduced reliance on detention centers.
The roots of the current movement stretch back more than a year. Following the announcement that Delaney Hall would reopen as an ICE detention facility, local activists began organizing vigils and informational campaigns outside the site. What started as small gatherings gradually evolved into a larger coalition involving legal advocacy groups, faith organizations, labor allies, and community activists.
Several umbrella organizations now help coordinate various aspects of the movement. Eyes on ICE NJ focuses on monitoring activity around the facility and documenting conditions. ICE Out of NJ works on demonstrations and political advocacy, while the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice brings together dozens of member organizations across the state.
The Fox News Digital investigation also highlighted the extensive logistical preparations involved in organizing demonstrations. Messages reviewed by the outlet allegedly showed activists discussing transportation, food, water, medical supplies, and protective equipment. Some participants coordinated carpools, while others offered items such as goggles, respirators, and decontamination wipes designed to help protect protesters from pepper spray or tear gas.
Those preparations became particularly significant as tensions increased outside Delaney Hall in recent weeks. Protests have occasionally resulted in confrontations with law enforcement, arrests, and heightened security measures around the facility.
The debate has also drawn in prominent elected officials, including Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Andy Kim, Gov. Mikie Sherrill, and several members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation. At the same time, some activist groups have criticized those same politicians for not taking stronger action against immigration detention policies.
