Several dozen protesters gathered outside the New Jersey statehouse in Trenton on Monday to demonstrate against Governor Mikie Sherrill's handling of issues at an immigration detention center. The demonstrators carried signs with messages directed at the Democratic governor and chanted slogans expressing their dissatisfaction with her response.

The protest centered on the situation at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, where detainees have reportedly engaged in hunger and labor strikes. Protesters claimed that at least 300 detainees are participating in the strike action at the facility.

Governor Sherrill recently announced $20.2 million in state funding designated to provide legal defense services for immigrants facing deportation proceedings. The funding announcement came amid ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and detention practices in the state.

The protesters argued that Sherrill has not adequately addressed what they described as dire conditions at the detention facility. Their demonstration reflected broader concerns about immigration detention policies and the state's response to reported strikes by detainees.

The funding allocation represents a significant state investment in immigration legal services, though critics question whether it addresses the underlying issues that prompted the detention center strikes. The governor's office has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the protesters' specific concerns about conditions at Delaney Hall.