Jesse Watters Claims Immigrant Detainees Are on Hunger Strike Because They Don't Have Ethnic Food'

A privately owned ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, drew protests after allegations of horrific conditions. Hundreds of detainees reportedly went on a labor and hunger strike, and demonstrations outside the facility turned violent. ICE agents pepper-sprayed Sen. Andy Kim during the unrest. DHS denied the allegations, and Governor Mikie Sherrill attended after claiming she was denied access. Jesse Watters and co-hosts discussed the controversy, repeating a DHS Secretary’s claim that detainees struck because they lacked ethnic food. Rep. Jerry Nadler described small food portions and alleged maggots in meals. Watters disputed poor-conditions reports, calling them a ruse and asserting detainees receive extensive healthcare and three meals daily.

"They are getting more healthcare than they have ever gotten in their lives. They get around the clock mental health care, dental care, medical care, and they get three squares. Now this hunger strike, Jessica [Tarlov], because they don't have ethnic food, what do we want? Chicken chimichangas? Chalupas? Pico de mayo de gallo? Does the Jamaican in there for homicide, does he get jerk chicken? It's not EPCOT, Jessica. It's a ICE detention facility."

"If an American was held on immigration charges in Mexico, would he demand pizza and French fries? No, he'd get tacos. These people are ridiculous. There's no maggots, that was made up by lawyers who we pay for. This is a ruse by immigration lawyers that are paid for by the taxpayer so t"

"Delaney Hall, a privately owned facility in Newark, triggered protests outside the facility that turned violent on Monday, with ICE agents pepper-spraying Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ). The reportedly brutal conditions, which DHS has denied, led New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill (D) to also attend the protest after she claimed she was denied access to the facility with a history of allegations of inhuman treatment."

"Watters and his co-hosts discussed the controversy on Thursday's edition of The Five, including a comment from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin at a Wednesday cabinet meeting where he claimed that the detainees went on their hunger strike because they want their ethnic food. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who visited the facility, said food portions are small and very often contain maggots."

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