Salvadoran Man Dies in ICE Custody, Sparking Calls for Closure of New Jersey Facility
Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, a 41-year-old Salvadoran immigrant, was pronounced dead on Saturday at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, after suffering what US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) described as a medical emergency at the Delaney Hall detention facility. The agency announced his death on Monday, marking the second fatality at the facility in less than a year, according to ICE records reviewed by Al Jazeera.
Lopez-Cornejo, who first entered the US in 2006 and was later deported, had returned and was arrested by ICE agents in Plainfield, New Jersey, on 18 June. He was held at Delaney Hall under an order reviving his earlier deportation case, ICE stated.
His mother, Maria Cornejo, told the New Jersey Monitor that her son had held a job since 2022 and attempted to show arresting officers his work permit, but he was detained nonetheless. In a video posted to Facebook by advocacy groups, she said she spoke with him on Friday, a day before his death. He told her he was not feeling well and had lost feeling in his face and hand.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Lopez-Cornejo's family alleged he suffered from underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and epilepsy, and relied on several medications. His 12-year-old daughter claimed he was denied medications and had lost a significant amount of weight in custody. “My son needed medical attention, and he did not receive it,” his mother said in Spanish.
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka called for the closure of Delaney Hall, echoing statements from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who said her administration faces obstruction in efforts to conduct a full health inspection of the facility. Sherrill's comment was reported exclusively by The Guardian.
The death has intensified scrutiny of Delaney Hall, which has been the site of protests in recent months over allegations of physical abuse by guards and spoiled food. In late May, at least 300 detainees organized a hunger and labor strike, followed by a separate hunger strike by women in the facility. Their demands include improvements to conditions and the release of women under 21, those with medical conditions, and mothers.
Protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall on Monday to hold a vigil in Lopez-Cornejo's memory, as reported by multiple outlets.
Lopez-Cornejo's death is the 22nd in ICE custody this year, according to agency data cited by The Guardian. More than 50 people have died in ICE custody nationwide since US President Donald Trump took office in January last year, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, citing Reuters.
The family has demanded an independent investigation into his death. ICE said officials have not yet determined an official cause of death.