HACKENSACK, N.J. (WCBS 880) — A small group of demonstrators have been out in front of the Bergen County Jail for days in solidarity with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees who are on a hunger strike.
Eight ICE detainees have refused to eat for nearly three weeks, demanding their release citing poor living conditions and fear of getting the coronavirus as cases in New Jersey have been surging.
Demonstrators have been gathering outside the jail daily for nearly a week in support of the detainees.
"No matter how uncomfortable the conditions are out here, it is nothing compared to the deplorable conditions on the inside," one demonstrator said.
"I heard the heat is now turned off and they are not drinking water, they are drinking out of toilets, apparently. A lot of them are falling ill and passing out, things like that," another demonstrator said. "It's really sad to know that there are innocent people in this jail and our own government's profiting off of them being here and I don't like seeing it. It's disgusting."
Bergen County has a multi-million dollar contract with ICE to hold undocumented immigrants waiting for court proceedings.
Just a week ago, in neighboring Hudson County, lawmakers there renewed their contract, despite 10 hours of public comments against the extension.
This is the second hunger strike within the last month as the detainees demand to fight their deportation cases on the outside.
ICE's local field office denied claims the heat was turned off and said it does not retaliate against anyone for engaging in a hunger strike.
The Bergen County Sheriff's Office did not respond to a request for comment.