The Aporia · Martin Soto Went Out for Diapers. He Came Home Eight Months Later.

Martin Soto, a Peruvian man seeking asylum in the United States, was released from ICE detention on October 6 after eight months of confinement, including solitary confinement for organizing a hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall. His wife, Gabriela Soto, had been leading protests outside the facility since May, and Martin began pursuing a U-Visa earlier this year to aid his case. The approval of his visa certification allowed for his release from the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey.

Written by AI on 2026-10-07, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Immigration Detention Policies

Politics · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

This article reads leans strongly left and hedges 26% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

ICE releases Peruvian immigrant who led hunger strike at New Jersey detention center Same event

Washington Examiner

Hedges 3 of 26 claims Outlet record 69/100

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Mother Jones · 467 article(s) · 1 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 1 correction(s)

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Martin Soto, a Peruvian man thrown into solitary confinement after organizing a hunger and labor strike inside the notorious for-profit ICE detention facility Delaney Hall, was released from New Jersey’s Elizabeth Detention Center with an ankle monitor Tuesday night.

framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-07

🔮 Gabriela Soto organized a series of protests outside Delaney Hall in May, as her husband worked to improve conditions inside.

2026-10-07 · Mother Jones

Martin Soto Went Out for Diapers. He Came Home Eight Months Later. · mixed framing

Soto → throw → monitor

Soto came to the United States from Peru in 2024 and was pursuing asylum. asserted

Soto → come → asylum

He was detained by federal agents in February while buying diapers for his two young children. asserted

He → detain → children

Though he has no criminal record, he spent eight consecutive months in ICE detention, including several months in solitary confinement—retribution, his wife Gabriela said, for his role as an organizer. asserted

Gabriela → have → organizer

Gabriela Soto organized a series of protests outside Delaney Hall in May, as her husband worked to improve conditions inside. uncertain

husband → organize → conditions

On May 22, a group of over 300 detained immigrants, including Martin, announced a two-week hunger and labor strike inside the for-profit detention facility, demanding freedom and due process, as well as a meeting with the governor and an end to coercive pressure to self-deport. uncertain

group → detain → pressure

The state of New Jersey sued to close Delaney Hall as reports of inedible food, violent guards, and inadequate medical care continued to emerge from the facility. asserted

reports → sue → facility

The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, claimed the hunger strike never happened. asserted

strike → claim → Security

By the end of May, Martin Soto was transferred to the nearby Elizabeth Detention Center, where he was held for another four months. uncertain

he → transfer → months

“They don’t want him associating with more people because they’re afraid that he might start another hunger and labor strike inside a facility,” Gabriela Soto told journalist Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg in early September. uncertain

Soto → want → September

“So they keep him away from life in general.” asserted

they → keep → general

In August, Soto began pursuing a U-Visa, a specialized visa “reserved for victims of certain crimes…who are aiding law enforcement investigations.” asserted

who → begin → investigations

In September, Gabriela Soto sent a handwritten letter to New Jersey Attorney General Davenport asking Davenport to sign Martin’s U-Visa certification as her office investigates alleged human rights abuses against Soto and others inside Delaney Hall. asserted

office → send → Hall

“I know that my advocacy, Martin’s bravery, has placed this case in the spotlight & therefore your decisions in this are under that same spotlight,” Gabriela wrote. asserted

Gabriela → know → spotlight

“But I ask you to please consider providing us with this documentation so we can continue our fight.” asserted

we → ask → fight

That visa certification was approved this week, according to independent journalist Kevin Ortega-Rojas. uncertain

certification → approve → Rojas

Soto’s October 6 release was first reported by Radio Jornalera NJ, a local community radio station. asserted

release → report → NJ

New Jersey Democrats, including Representatives Rob Menendez (D-NJ) and Analilia Mejía (D-NJ), joined the Soto family and about two dozen supporters at the gates of the Elizabeth Detention Center Tuesday night. asserted

Democrats → include → Center

In a video posted that evening by Radio Jornalera, Gabriela runs, sobbing, into Martin’s arms. asserted

Gabriela → post → arms

Martin Soto Went Out for Diapers. He Came Home Eight Months Later.

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