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The former ICE chief then outlined what federal authorities could do if detainees continue refusing food and their health deteriorates.
“If it gets bad enough and the prisoners feel like they’re putting themselves in extreme danger, medical danger, then we’ll force-feed them,” Homan said. “We will get a court order and force-feed them.”
That statement immediately reignited debate surrounding detention policies and the government’s responsibility toward individuals in custody.
The latest protest is only the newest chapter in a long-running battle over Delaney Hall. The facility has repeatedly become a magnet for activists, politicians, and immigration advocates seeking to challenge federal enforcement efforts.
Last year, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested after a confrontation outside the facility involving allegations of trespassing. Weeks later, another incident drew national attention when detainees reportedly damaged part of a housing area, resulting in several escapees who were later apprehended by authorities.
During that same period, Democratic Representative LaMonica McIver became embroiled in controversy after allegations surfaced involving a confrontation with federal officers.
Now, with another round of protests making headlines, federal officials are pushing back against what they view as political theater.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin dismissed the latest claims and accused local Democratic leaders of turning the facility into a political stage.
“Sanctuary politicians” are staging “a political stunt,” Mullin posted Monday, adding flatly: “There is NO hunger strike at Delaney Hall.”
Federal officials have also pointed to detention statistics in an effort to counter allegations of widespread mistreatment.
“Death rates in custody are 0.009% of the detained population,” a DHS spokesperson told ABC News. “ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.”
Homan echoed that argument during his interview, urging critics to review the agency’s detention policies for themselves.
“Go to ice.gov and look at ICE’s detention standards. The highest detention standards in the industry, better than any state prison, county jail, or federal lockup.”
The legal question surrounding force-feeding is hardly new. Courts have wrestled with the issue for decades, particularly during the highly publicized hunger strikes at Guantanamo Bay.
During those disputes, federal judges repeatedly sided with government officials who argued they had a duty to preserve the lives of detainees, even against their wishes. Challenges brought by civil liberties groups failed to stop the practice, establishing legal precedent that remains influential today.
Legal experts note that immigration detention is generally treated as an administrative process rather than criminal punishment, limiting the types of constitutional claims detainees can successfully pursue.
For that reason, many observers believe courts would be unlikely to order mass releases simply because detainees refuse food.
Homan closed the debate with a message that underscored the administration’s determination to continue enforcement operations regardless of public pressure.
“They can put themselves in a position where they’re not eating, but it’s not going to cause them to be released,” he said. “We are going to continue to arrest people. We’ll continue to detain people.”
As the standoff continues, both sides appear entrenched. Protesters hope public pressure will force change, while federal officials insist enforcement policies will remain firmly in place. If Homan’s prediction proves accurate, the detainees may soon discover that refusing meals is unlikely to alter the government’s approach, no matter how much political attention the protest attracts.
