Children’s Star Ms. Rachel Slams the Treatment of Families at Delaney Hall After a Visit That Revealed a Far Darker Reality Behind the Gates
A plea for empathy.
Children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel is calling out the treatment of families at Delaney Hall after a visit that left her shaken. The YouTube star, known for her bright and educational content for kids, spent Monday, June 8, 2026, at the Newark, New Jersey immigration detention center. What she saw there was anything but child-friendly.
According to The Hill, in an Instagram post, she described meeting “the sweetest children whose hearts are broken” because their parents are locked inside. “They just want their parents home again,” she wrote. It’s a simple request, but one that’s being ignored in a system that seems designed to traumatize kids. The visit wasn’t just emotional; it was eye-opening.
Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Accurso, didn’t hold back in her criticism. “Why are we traumatizing kids?” she asked, a question that’s been echoing outside Delaney Hall for months. Family visitation at the facility only resumed last month, but detainees and their relatives are still reporting major issues. Access to lawyers and medical staff is limited, and the food is reportedly low-quality. It’s not just a logistical problem; it’s a humanitarian one.
Delaney Hall has been a flashpoint for controversy for over a year
Protests against the treatment of immigrants there have drawn crowds, but not without consequences. Last month, demonstrators clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers outside the facility. The confrontation got so heated that Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposed a curfew for pedestrian traffic in the area.
Sen. Andy Kim was even pepper-sprayed during the protests. It’s a stark reminder that standing up for basic human rights can come with serious risks. The facility itself is run by Geo Group, a for-profit prison company that’s been accused of cutting corners on care. Detainees have reported moldy food, expired meals, and overcrowded cells. Last month, a group of detainees launched a hunger strike to demand better conditions.
Their complaints align with what advocates have been saying for years – private detention centers prioritize profits over people. The North Star State sued Geo Group on June 2, arguing that the state health department hasn’t been allowed to inspect the facility despite allegations of unsanitary conditions and poor treatment. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill finally got a “closely controlled and limited tour” of Delaney Hall on Monday after being denied access for weeks.
It’s telling that even elected officials are being blocked from seeing what’s happening inside
Rep. LaMonica McIver learned that lesson the hard way. Over a year ago, she tried to conduct a congressional oversight visit at the facility. Instead of being welcomed, she was accused of assaulting ICE officers. A federal grand jury indicted her on three criminal charges last June, though she’s pleaded not guilty. Now, she’s leading the charge to shut Delaney Hall down entirely.
Ms. Rachel’s visit wasn’t just about bearing witness; it was about taking action. She spent time in the “Radical Hospitality Zone,” a space set up by activists to support families of detainees. There, she hugged kids, listened to their stories, and even sang protest songs with them. One of those songs, Sing Them Home, was written with children detained at the Dilley Detention Facility in Texas, advocacy and solutions journalism outlet Good Good Good reported.
The lyrics are simple but powerful: “I’ll sing from here / and you sing from there / together, we’ll sing down the walls everywhere / with love in our hearts / rising up like the sea / together, we’ll sing until everyone’s free.” She encouraged her followers to record themselves singing the song with the hashtag #singthemhome, turning her platform into a tool for solidarity.
The emotional toll of the visit was heavy
“These kids are so kind,” Ms. Rachel wrote. “They are also traumatized and miss their parents so much.” She portrayed how normal childhood activities feel impossible when your family is being torn apart. “I know if you came and played cars, and drew with chalk with them, and laughed, and sang, and saw their tears you wouldn’t want what is happening to happen,” she added. It’s a plea for empathy, one that’s hard to ignore.
Her advocacy isn’t new. Ms. Rachel has been vocal about children’s rights for years, speaking out for kids in Gaza, Sudan, and the Congo. She’s also been a consistent voice for families impacted by ICE, including those detained at Dilley. That work hasn’t come without backlash, but she’s remained steadfast.
“I will always stand with these families,” she wrote from her time outside Delaney Hall. She even shared a GoFundMe for one family whose father, a truck driver who’s lived and worked in the U.S. for 20 years, is detained there. The fundraiser hit its $10,000 goal, but the real victory would be reuniting the family.
The situation at Delaney Hall is a microcosm of a larger problem. Private detention centers like this one operate with little oversight, and the consequences are devastating. Kids are growing up without their parents, detainees are being denied basic medical care, and families are being torn apart, all while a for-profit company profits from their suffering.
(Featured image: Fibonacci Blue)
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