Trump administration Border Czar Tom Homan is firing back hard against what he says are outright falsehoods being pushed by anti-ICE activists and Democratic politicians about conditions inside a New Jersey immigration detention facility.
In a recent interview on Fox News with Lara Trump, Homan pulled back the curtain on what he described as a politically motivated misinformation campaign surrounding the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark — and said he decided to see the truth for himself.
His conclusion? The horror stories being spread online and amplified by immigration activists simply do not match reality.
“The Democratic politicians were lying,” Homan said bluntly during the interview. “They’re enticing these protests with their lies.”
The controversy surrounding Delaney Hall has intensified in recent weeks after activists and some local Democrats accused the facility of mistreating detainees. Allegations ranging from poor food quality to inadequate medical care have fueled protests outside the center, with critics attempting to paint the detention site as abusive and inhumane.
But Homan says he wasn’t willing to take anyone’s word for it.
Instead, he conducted an unannounced surprise inspection of the facility — right down to sitting with detainees and eating the exact same meal they were being served.
“I even did a surprise visit on Saturday, unannounced, to eat lunch because I was told the food was bad,” Homan explained. “So I sat in the cafeteria right along with the detainees.”
And according to Homan, the claims about poor food didn’t survive contact with reality.
The meal reportedly included spaghetti with meat sauce, vegetables, rolls, and dessert — hardly the image critics have tried to portray.
“I’m not a small guy,” Homan joked. “I couldn’t finish it off.”
Beyond the cafeteria, Homan said he toured medical facilities, housing units, recreational spaces, and bathrooms inside Delaney Hall. Far from the dystopian picture painted by activists, he described a clean and orderly environment that provides basic care and structure for detainees awaiting immigration proceedings.
For Homan, however, the fight is bigger than food quality or facility conditions.
He argues the real objective of many critics is to dismantle immigration enforcement entirely.
“It isn’t about the quality of detention,” Homan said. “It’s about detention. They don’t want these people detained.”
He added, “They want to shut down detention centers, and they want to abolish ICE. That’s what this is all about.”
The political firestorm surrounding Delaney Hall intensified after an open letter allegedly written by detainees claimed they were enduring “inhumane” conditions, poor nutrition, and inadequate medical treatment.
In the letter, detainees said they felt “vulnerable” and even described themselves as “kidnapped,” arguing they were being psychologically harmed while detained.
But the Department of Homeland Security has firmly rejected those allegations.
DHS officials publicly released facility menus showing detainees receive three meals daily, including options such as chicken fajitas, Salisbury steak, vegetables, and desserts — directly contradicting claims of food deprivation.
Online reaction to Homan’s revelations was swift, especially among conservatives frustrated by what they see as media-driven narratives designed to undermine immigration enforcement.
“Sounds better than what we had in the Army,” one veteran commented online.
Another user quipped, “They’re eating better than some school cafeterias.”
For many Americans concerned about border security, Homan’s message landed clearly: enforcing immigration law should not be controversial, and detention facilities serving meals, medical care, and shelter are a far cry from the grim portrayals dominating activist headlines.
As the Trump administration continues ramping up immigration enforcement, one thing appears certain — Homan isn’t backing down from the fight, and he’s daring critics to deal in facts instead of fear.
