Salvadoran Man Dies in ICE Detention Center in Newark

A 41-year-old Salvadoran national, Edwin Lopez-Cornijo, died while in U.S. immigration detention at the Delaney Hall facility in Newark, New Jersey, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency confirmed.

Detention and Circumstances of Death

ICE stated that Lopez-Cornijo was taken into custody on June 18 of last year, citing his alleged “re-entry into the United States without authorization.” He had first arrived in the U.S. in 2006. Authorities reported he was held at Delaney Hall—a 1,000-bed detention center—and experienced a “medical emergency” whose specifics remain undisclosed. He later died in a hospital, and ICE noted that the official cause of death is pending further medical examination.

Longstanding Criticism of Facility Conditions

The Delaney Hall facility has drawn sustained criticism over its operational conditions. In recent months, demonstrators staged protests outside the center, citing deteriorating health and safety standards. The site functions as part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement campaign targeting individuals apprehended for alleged immigration violations.

Family Statement and Medical Care Dispute

Lopez-Cornijo’s mother spoke with the New Jersey Monitor, expressing profound grief over her son’s death. She said she was unable to visit him due to her non-U.S. citizenship status and described him as “a good son,” adding, “I have never experienced pain this deep.” She stated she lacked information about the circumstances of his death but indicated he “did not regularly receive medication for diabetes and high blood pressure,” according to the outlet. ICE countered by affirming that Lopez-Cornijo “received appropriate medical care” during his detention.

Political Response and Calls for Closure

U.S. Senator Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, called for the immediate closure of Delaney Hall. In a public statement, he said, “This is not the first detainee death at Delaney Hall, and without decisive action, it will not be the last.” Following Lopez-Cornijo’s death, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka—a Democrat—also demanded the facility’s shutdown. He accused both the private contractor managing the site and ICE of demonstrating “disregard for transparency, public oversight, and for laws designed to protect the health, safety, and dignity of those detained.”

Previous Health and Safety Complaints

According to the office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy—a Democrat—the detained population at Delaney Hall had previously lodged formal complaints regarding “undrinkable water, inadequate medical care, and outbreaks of influenza and COVID-19” within the facility.

Security Measures Following Protests

In May, clashes erupted between law enforcement and protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall, prompting Mayor Baraka to impose a curfew around the facility.