On Monday, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that a 41-year-old national of El Salvador had died at the Newark facility.
Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, was arrested on 18 June and had since been held at Delaney Hall in Newark. According to ICE, he had entered the US illegally. The official cause of death will be released following a further medical examination, ICE reported, adding that he “received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals” whilst in custody.
The immigration detention centre in New Jersey has frequently been the subject of criticism directed at both ICE and US President Donald Trump over the conditions in which detainees are held. Several detainees had earlier gone on hunger strike over their conditions, citing a refusal to provide them with medication.
During the latest wave of criticism, Democrats and human rights groups have questioned whether the death could have been prevented, stating that they have little confidence that those detained at this 1,000-capacity facility are receiving proper care. Democratic Senator Cory Booker said that “this is not the first death of a detainee at Delaney Hall and, unless decisive action is taken, it will not be the last.”
“I have visited the facility myself and witnessed these conditions first-hand, so I say this plainly: Delaney Hall must be closed immediately and permanently,” he added.
The death of a Salvadoran national at Delaney Hall marked the second tragic incident since the start of Trump’s second term. Earlier in December, a Haitian national died after losing consciousness. In total, at least 56 people have died in ICE custody.
