A man from El Salvador has died at an immigration jail in New Jersey that has been the target of protests over living conditions for detained individuals, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed.
Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, had been held at Delaney Hall in Newark since his arrest on June 18. ICE stated that Lopez-Cornejo, whom the government accused of entering the U.S. illegally, died on Saturday. An official cause of death is pending further medical examination.
Democratic politicians and civil rights groups in New Jersey have expressed concerns about the preventability of the death, citing a lack of confidence in the care provided at the 1,000-bed facility. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker called for the immediate and permanent closure of Delaney Hall, stating he had witnessed the conditions firsthand.
ICE maintained that Lopez-Cornejo "received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals" while in custody.
This is the second death at Delaney Hall since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term, according to Associated Press tracking. Jean Wilson Brutus, a Haitian national, died in December from what a medical examiner ruled a natural death due to a lung blockage.
At least 56 individuals have died in ICE custody during Trump's second term. Lopez-Cornejo is the second native of El Salvador to die in custody, following Norlan Guzman-Fuentes, who was killed in a sniper attack on an ICE field office in Dallas in September.
Individuals held at the Newark facility have previously called for improved living conditions and medical care, with some alleging denial of medication. An immigrant advocacy group, Cosecha, reported that some detainees launched a hunger strike earlier this year.
The facility has also been a focal point for protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies, with demonstrators attempting to block vehicles entering or leaving the premises. President Trump and his administration have defended the facility's operations and denied claims of hunger strikes, abuse, or poor conditions.
Delaney Hall is operated by Geo Group, a private prison contractor that manages multiple detention centers nationwide. The contractor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill stated her administration is working to understand the circumstances surrounding Lopez-Cornejo's death. She also noted ongoing obstructions to full health inspections of the facility, suggesting that such impediments raise serious questions about the operations and transparency of those running Delaney Hall.