At Campos Law Firm, we closely monitor developments in U.S. immigration policy to protect our clients’ rights and future. In the same week, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers made headlines again: in New Jersey, a federal judge ordered the release of a Peruvian immigrant who took part in a strike inside Delaney Hall; in Georgia, dozens of detainees began a hunger strike on October 6, 2026.
Neither development, on its own, changes the situation of other people in detention. Below, we explain what we know and what rights you have.
Why Did a Judge Order Martín Soto’s Release?
Martín Soto, a Peruvian national, was detained by ICE in February in Kearny, New Jersey, while he was out buying diapers for his son, according to Gothamist. He was held at Delaney Hall, a facility in Newark run by GEO Group, and later at the Elizabeth Detention Center. In May, he was among the detainees who launched a hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall to protest conditions there.
U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper ordered his release based on the length and conditions of his detention, his risk of self-harm, and the lack of sufficient constitutional justification for keeping him detained, Gothamist reported. The judge had denied the case in June but reopened it in September given the seriousness of the mental health concerns. Soto was released on the night of Tuesday, October 6, with an electronic monitor, according to the EFE news agency.
His lawyer, Selenia Destefani, said he spent four months in solitary confinement; the government denied it. An ICE spokesperson criticized the judge and said Soto faced an assault charge, although court records in his case indicate that charge was dropped, according to Gothamist.
What Is Happening at the Folkston Center in Georgia?
At the D. Ray James ICE Processing Center in Folkston, Georgia, also run by GEO Group, a group of detainees began a hunger strike on Tuesday, October 6, according to WSAV. An open letter signed by 45 detainees calls for their release and reunification with their families; according to UPI, they say they have been held for an average of 20 months, and one for about 32.
UPI, citing The Guardian, reported that the strike had grown to about 73 people. Two Russian asylum seekers described poor medical care, threats, cramped quarters, and spoiled food. These numbers and allegations come from detainees and their supporters; we found no public response from ICE.
What Rights Do You Have in Immigration Detention?
Immigration detention is civil, not criminal. That does not keep it from lasting months, but it does open paths to challenge it:
- Bond hearing: many people can ask an immigration judge to set bond; the rules depend on how and where you were arrested.
- Habeas corpus: if detention is prolonged or unjustified, an attorney can ask a federal court to review it, as in Soto’s case.
- Medical care: request care in writing and keep a copy of every request; that record can be decisive.
- Access to a lawyer and your family: you have the right to hire an attorney and communicate with them.
A hunger strike does not change the legal status of a case, and refusing food puts your health at risk. What moves a case forward is evidence and legal action filed on time.
What Can Your Family Do?
- Locate your loved one: use ICE’s Online Detainee Locator with their Alien Registration Number (A-number).
- Document everything: detention dates, transfers, health problems, and the facility’s responses.
- Get representation quickly: the sooner the basis for detention is reviewed, the more options there are.
In a country where every decision can change your future, having the right information is your best tool. You can also revisit our explainer on a judge who ordered a detainee released because his record did not prove flight risk.
Protect Your Immigration Status with Campos Law Firm
Every month in detention weighs on the entire family. Our immigration attorneys can evaluate whether bond or habeas corpus is possible and gather the evidence a judge needs to see. Free, honest evaluation in English or Spanish. We answer 24/7.
Do not leave your immigration status to chance. Call us today at +1 (844) 922-6767 to schedule a free, confidential consultation in English or Spanish. Campos Law Firm: Legal Solutions in All Areas of Law.
With information from Gothamist, the EFE news agency, UPI, and WSAV.
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