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Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, a Salvadoran migrant, died following a medical emergency while in ICE custody at the Delaney Hall facility.

The administration announced that Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, a 41-year-old Salvadoran migrant, died on Saturday following a medical emergency while being held at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The official cause of death remains pending, but ICE officials stated that Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals during his stay. However, the death has sparked criticism from local officials and advocacy groups. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka have both called for the closure of the facility, citing a lack of oversight and transparency. While the Department of Homeland Security defended the facility, stating it complies with all required laws, the ACLU of New Jersey expressed concern over allegations of inhumane conditions and medical neglect. Lopez-Cornejo had illegally entered the United States in 2006 and was subsequently deported to El Salvador before reentering the country. He was arrested in June 2024 and held at Delaney Hall for approximately six weeks. His mother, Maria Cornejo, expressed her grief and noted that she was unable to visit him during his detention.

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