Immigrant Detainee Dies in NJ: Calls Grow to Close Newark Facility
Immigrant Detainee Dies in NJ: Calls Grow to Close Newark Facility
An immigrant detainee's death at Newark's Delaney Hall sparks outrage and renewed calls from lawmakers and advocates to shut down the controversial New Jersey facility. Family demands answers.
A Salvadoran man, Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, has tragically died at Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. His death has ignited a fresh wave of scrutiny over the facility's conditions and prompted renewed calls from Democratic lawmakers and immigrant advocates for its immediate closure.
Lopez-Cornejo had been held at Delaney Hall since his arrest on June 18, accused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of entering the United States illegally. While ICE stated that Lopez-Cornejo "received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals" during his custody, his family reports being refused access to his medical records, seeking answers regarding the circumstances of his death. The official cause of death remains pending.
This incident has drawn sharp criticism from prominent figures, including U.S. Senator Cory Booker. Senator Booker emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "This is not the first death of a detainee at Delaney Hall, and absent decisive action, it will not be the last." He further revealed having visited the facility and witnessed the conditions firsthand, unequivocally declaring: "Delaney Hall must be closed immediately and permanently." Civil rights groups echo these concerns, pointing to longstanding issues regarding medical care and living conditions within the 1,000-bed center.
This marks the second detainee death at Delaney Hall during the current presidential administration. In December, Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian national, died at the facility due to a pulmonary embolism. Lopez-Cornejo's death also signifies the second Salvadoran national to die while in ICE custody, highlighting a troubling pattern that advocates insist demands immediate and comprehensive action.
