Delaney Hall Deaths
Second Detainee Dies at Newark ICE Facility, Fueling Calls for Shutdown
Anonymous
Key Points
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Sen. Cory Booker called for Delaney Hall to be closed immediately and permanently, saying the facility's conditions are unacceptable and that action is needed.
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Delaney Hall is operated by the private GEO Group, with ICE stating staff and medical personnel responded promptly to Lopez-Cornejo's medical emergency.
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Lopez-Cornejo died on Aug. 1 at University Hospital in Newark after suffering a medical emergency in the detention center; the official cause of death remains pending a formal medical examination.
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Newark officials noted dayslong protests earlier this year over Delaney Hall conditions, with clashes between police and demonstrators and a temporary curfew enacted in the city.
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Lopez-Cornejo is the second Salvadoran national to die in ICE custody during Trump’s second term, with Norlan Guzman-Fuentes killed in a Dallas ICE field-office incident earlier in the term.
A second detainee has died at Delaney Hall, Newark's privately run ICE detention center, intensifying calls to shut the facility down. Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, a 41-year-old Salvadoran man, died on August 1 at University Hospital in Newark after suffering a medical emergency inside the center, according to The Independent.
Lopez-Cornejo's death is the second at Delaney Hall since it opened last May. The first was Jean Wilson Brutus, who died in December from a medical issue. Sen. Cory Booker called for the facility to be closed "immediately and permanently," saying conditions there are unacceptable, Yahoo News reported.
What Happened to Edwin Lopez-Cornejo
Lopez-Cornejo, 41, experienced a medical emergency at Delaney Hall. Staff and medical personnel responded and called 911. He was taken to University Hospital in Newark, where he died. ICE said he received proper medical care throughout. The official cause of death is still pending a formal medical examination, according to The Independent.
Family members and supporters dispute ICE's account. They say essential medications — including treatment for diabetes — may have been withheld. Those claims have not been confirmed, but they have fueled demands for an independent investigation into his care, Yahoo News reported.
Delaney Hall's Troubled Record Since Opening
Delaney Hall is run by GEO Group, a private prison company. The facility opened last May. In that short time, it has seen two detainee deaths, multiple hunger strikes, and reports of denied medications and poor living conditions. Advocacy groups have raised alarms about medical care and access to oversight at the center, according to The Independent.
The facility also sparked large protests earlier this year. Demonstrators clashed with police outside Delaney Hall, and Newark enacted a temporary curfew to manage the unrest. The protests reflected deep frustration with the center's conditions and its role in federal immigration enforcement, Yahoo News reported.
New Jersey Officials Demand Answers and Oversight
New Jersey's governor demanded answers after Lopez-Cornejo's death and said the state will work with Congress to pursue accountability. Lawmakers announced plans for unannounced oversight visits to Delaney Hall. Sen. Booker's call to close the facility was echoed by other Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups, according to Yahoo News.
Lopez-Cornejo is also the second Salvadoran national to die in ICE custody during Trump's second term. Norlan Guzman-Fuentes was killed earlier in the term during an incident at a Dallas ICE field office. Advocates say these deaths show a pattern that demands systemic reform, The Independent reported.
A Broader Spike in ICE Custody Deaths Under Trump
Lopez-Cornejo's death is part of a wider trend. More than 50 detainees have died in ICE custody during President Trump's current term. Experts and advocates say 2025 and 2026 are on track to be among the deadliest years on record for ICE detention, according to Yahoo News.
Critics point to privatization as a key factor. Private facilities like Delaney Hall face less direct government oversight than federally run centers. That can delay the detection and response to medical emergencies. Staffing and resource constraints in private facilities may also reduce the quality of detainee care, The Independent reported.
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