A man from El Salvador has died at an immigration jail in Newark, New Jersey, that has been the target of protests regarding detainee living conditions, federal officials said.
Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, had been held at Delaney Hall since his arrest on June 18 for allegedly entering the United States illegally. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed his death on Saturday. The agency stated that Lopez-Cornejo received medical care and was seen by medical professionals while in custody. His official cause of death will be determined by a medical examination.
Democratic politicians and civil rights groups in New Jersey 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, a Democrat from New Jersey, stated that this is not the first death at Delaney Hall and called for the facility to be closed immediately and permanently. He noted he had witnessed conditions there firsthand.
This is the second death at Delaney Hall since the beginning of President Trump’s second term. In December, Jean Wilson Brutus, a Haitian national, died suddenly due to a lung blockage, which a medical examiner ruled as a natural death. At least 56 people have died in ICE custody during the current administration, with Lopez-Cornejo being the second detainee from El Salvador. Norlan Guzman-Fuentes, also from El Salvador, died in September during a sniper attack on an ICE field office in Dallas.
Detainees at the Newark facility have previously advocated for improved living conditions and better medical care, with some alleging denial of medication. An immigrant advocacy group, Cosecha, reported that some detainees initiated a hunger strike earlier this year.
The facility has also been a focal point for protests against the administration's immigration policies, with demonstrators attempting to obstruct vehicles entering or exiting. Officials from the administration have defended the facility's operations, denying claims of hunger strikes, abuse, or poor conditions.
Delaney Hall is operated by Geo Group, a private prison contractor that manages detention centers nationwide. ICE stated that Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care while in custody. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, said her administration is working to ascertain the facts surrounding the death and noted that efforts to conduct a full health inspection of the facility have been obstructed, raising questions about transparency.