Generated

Edwin Lopez-Cornejo Dies in ICE Custody Following Medical Emergency at Newark Detention Center

Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, a 41-year-old Salvadoran man, died on Saturday after experiencing a medical emergency while being held at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that Lopez-Cornejo was transported to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. While the administration announced that Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals during his stay, his family alleges medical negligence. Maria Cornejo, his mother, stated that her son suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure, and seizures, and she believes he was not receiving his prescribed medications while in custody. The facility has faced scrutiny since reopening in May 2025. Governor Mikie Sherrill and Mayor Ras Baraka have called for an investigation into the facility's conditions. ICE noted that Lopez-Cornejo had illegally entered the United States in 2006 and was subsequently removed to El Salvador before re-entering the country. This death marks the second known fatality at Delaney Hall since its reopening, following the death of Jean Wilson Brutus in December.

Sources