Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released Martin Soto, a Peruvian immigrant who led a hunger strike at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey. U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper ordered Soto’s release Tuesday after concerns were raised about his mental health during several months of confinement. The judge cited risks to Soto's well-being, including suicidal ideation and isolation. Rep. Nellie Pou (D-NJ) praised the decision, calling it a victory against ICE's alleged mistreatment of detainees.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Martin Soto, a Peruvian man seeking asylum in the United States, was detained by federal agents in February 2024 while buying diapers for his two young children. Despite having no criminal record, he spent eight consecutive months in ICE detention, including several months in solitary confinement at Delaney Hall and later at the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility. His wife, Gabriela Soto, organized protests outside Delaney Hall in May to draw attention to her husband's plight and poor conditions inside the facility.
On May 22, a group of over 300 detained immigrants, including Martin, announced a two-week hunger and labor strike demanding freedom and due process. The strike highlighted issues such as inedible food, violent guards, and inadequate medical care. U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper ordered Soto's release after expressing concern about his mental health, noting the risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation from prolonged isolation.
Soto was released on Tuesday night with an ankle monitor, marking a significant turn in what had become a high-profile case advocating for humane treatment and due process within ICE detention facilities.
Written for “Immigration Detention Policies” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.45, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 1 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 63477: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-07
Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel released a Peruvian immigrant who was one of the detainees responsible for launching a hunger and labor strike over Memorial Day weekend at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
asserted
who → release → Newark
Martin Soto regained his freedom Tuesday after a federal judge ordered his release.
asserted
judge → regain → release
He was detained for several months at Delaney Hall and later the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility, where he was transferred after helping lead the hunger strike inside the Newark facility.
asserted
he → detain → facility
U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper, a nominee of former President Joe Biden, expressed concern about Soto’s mental health while he was confined to the two detention centers.
asserted
he → express → centers
Soto, who had been imprisoned since February, was reportedly at risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation due to prolonged isolation.
uncertain
who → imprison → isolation
The judge agreed to reopen the case last month after he initially denied the detainee’s request for release in June.
asserted
he → agree → June
ICE complied with the judge’s order, and Soto’s wife welcomed him with open arms as seen in a video posted on social media.
asserted
wife → comply → media
“I am so happy Martin is finally being released from ICE custody,” Gabby Soto said in a statement released by Rep. Nellie Pou (D-NJ), who had advocated the release of her constituent.
asserted
who → release → constituent
“I want to thank Congresswoman Nellie Pou for all of her work on his case.
asserted
I → want → case
Her efforts were critical to us finally reaching this moment.”
asserted
us → reach → moment
Many New Jersey Democrats at the federal and state levels continue to push for the closure of Delaney Hall and other ICE facilities.
asserted
Democrats → continue → Hall
Pou said she was “overjoyed” to hear that Soto was released.
asserted
Soto → say → ?
“Martin was undeniably targeted and mistreated, being moved from Delaney Hall to the Elizabeth Detention Center and held in solitary confinement,” the congresswoman said in the release.
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congresswoman → target → release
“For months my office has been pushing ICE to release Martin and tonight justice is finally being done.
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justice → push → Martin
It should have happened months ago.
asserted
It → happen → ?
ICE remains out of control in our state and we must continue to oppose its rampant abuses.
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we → remain → abuses
But tonight we can be grateful the hard work from so many paid off and Martin is being reunited with his family.”
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Martin → pay → family
Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) also celebrated the return of Soto, saying he could not fathom how hard the “cruel separation” must have been for the family over the past eight months.
uncertain
separation → celebrate → months
“Through it all, Martin and Gabby have been brave, speaking out against ICE’s cruel policies and practices,” Kim posted on X. “I’m so glad that Martin Soto is finally home.”
asserted
Soto → speak → X.
After partaking in the hunger strike, which the Department of Homeland Security disputes, Soto was transferred to the detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
asserted
Soto → partake → Elizabeth
ICE and the DHS deny that any detainees were transferred from Delaney Hall in retaliation for the strike.
asserted
detainees → deny → strike
Following his release from ICE custody, Soto is wearing an ankle monitor.
asserted
Soto → follow → monitor
In his order, Semper allowed ICE to place “reasonable conditions” on the release.
asserted
ICE → allow → release
After illegally entering the United States in late 2023, the Peruvian man was released by immigration authorities in early 2024.
asserted
man → enter → 2024
He has no criminal record, according to reported court records.
uncertain
He → have → records
Soto was arrested by ICE in Kearny, New Jersey, at the start of February while shopping for diapers for his two young children.
asserted
Soto → arrest → children
The Aporia
