Immigrant held at New Jersey ICE facility dies, officials say

Salvadoran Migrant Passes Away at Controversial New Jersey Detention Center

Qwenews.com – Federal authorities confirmed Monday that Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, a Salvadoran national held at a contentious immigration facility in Newark, has died. This incident marks the most recent fatality among immigrants in ICE custody. According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, medical personnel at University Hospital in Newark pronounced him dead on Saturday.

The privately operated Delaney Hall detention center has faced mounting criticism regarding harsh conditions for those held there. These concerns sparked extended demonstrations earlier this year, resulting in confrontations between police and demonstrators that compelled the city’s mayor to impose a temporary evening curfew.

Medical Emergency and Response

ICE stated that Lopez-Cornejo “experienced a medical emergency while in ICE custody,” and that both facility staff and medical workers “responded immediately and called 911 for emergency medical services.” The agency noted that the official cause of death is still pending additional medical examination.

Family members reported that Lopez-Cornejo was 39 years old, while ICE’s official statement listed his age as 41. His daughter, who had been prevented from visiting her father at Delaney Hall, addressed reporters through tears during a Tuesday news conference.

“I’m going to grow up without a father. They didn’t even let him see me one last time before he died,” the young girl said.

“No one here is illegal. Everyone here should feel welcomed, not seen as criminals,” she added.

Broader Context of Detention Deaths

Lopez-Cornejo’s passing follows the December 2025 death of Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old migrant who died within 24 hours of arriving at Delaney Hall. ICE reported that Brutus died from suspected natural causes after experiencing a medical emergency.

These two individuals are part of more than 50 ICE detainees who have died since President Donald Trump returned to office last year and initiated efforts toward mass deportations. CNN has reported that 2025 saw more detainee deaths in custody than any year in at least two decades, and 2026 is projected to exceed that figure.

Family Demands and Political Response

At Tuesday’s news conference, Lopez-Cornejo’s mother, Maria Cornejo, called for justice for her son, granddaughter, and “everyone else who has been hunted down like criminals by ICE,” speaking in Spanish through a translator.

The family requested an independent investigation into the death, the release of all medical records connected to his case, and the closure of Delaney Hall. They also urged the release of all detainees, particularly those with medical needs, and asked New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill to launch an investigation into what they characterized as a health crisis at the facility.

Sherrill expressed that she was “deeply disturbed” by the news on Monday. “My heart is with the individual’s loved ones, who deserve answers about what happened,” she wrote in a statement, noting that her administration is “working with our Congressional delegation to gather all the facts surrounding this death.”

Representative Analilia Mejia, a New Jersey Democrat, described observing “medical abuse” during her visits to both Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center. “I have spoken to people who are being either denied medication, timely healthcare or when they’re given their medication, it is a fraction of what they’re supposed to get. I’ve seen this and verified it with my own eyes,” Mejia stated at the Tuesday conference.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who had previously called for an investigation into Delaney Hall, condemned the latest death as “a heartbreaking reminder of the consequences of a facility that has operated for far too long without adequate oversight, accountability, or transparency.”

Immigration History

According to ICE, Border Patrol arrested Lopez-Cornejo for illegally entering the United States in 2006 and deported him to El Salvador later that same year. He re-entered the US on an unspecified date, and ICE arrested him on June 18 in Plainfield, New Jersey. He was subsequently held at Delaney Hall while awaiting removal from the country.

ICE maintained that “while in custody, Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals.” The agency confirmed that both his family and the El Salvador consulate in Elizabeth, New Jersey, were notified of his passing.