A Salvadoran immigrant, identified as Edwin López Cornejo, 41 years old, died on August 1 at the notorious federal center Delaney Hall, in Newark (New Jersey). López thus becomes the 22nd person to die in ICE custody (border agents) so far in 2026, according to data from the agency itself.
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His death marks the second recorded at this center in recent months. “In less than a year, another family is forced to endure the unimaginable loss of a loved one while at Delaney Hall,” lamented Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark, in a statement.
Baraka called for the closure of the facilities and pointed out that this new loss of life highlights the lack of accountability and oversight long demanded by local residents, authorities, and detainees at the facility.
“The GEO group (the managers) and ICE have repeatedly shown a disregard for transparency, public oversight, and laws intended to protect the health, safety, and dignity of people in their custody. When there is no accountability, tragedies become too frequent,” the mayor denounced.
Delaney Hall has recently been in the national spotlight and has been the scene of protests following reports of alleged physical abuse by guards and the provision of spoiled food.
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At least 300 detainees organized a hunger strike and a work strike at the end of May. A few weeks later, women housed in a separate unit of the same center began their own hunger strike.
In addition to demanding improvements in the center’s conditions, their demands included that ICE release women under 21 years old, those with health problems, and mothers.
López Cornejo originally arrived in the United States in 2006 and was arrested in New Jersey on June 18. His mother stated that he tried to show his work permit in vain. He was sent to Delaney Hall awaiting deportation. Last weekend he suffered an unspecified medical emergency.
