ACLU Challenges ICE Over Delaney Hall Death and Visitation Rules
The ACLU sent a letter to ICE regarding constitutional concerns at Newark's Delaney Hall following the death of Edwin Jovanny Lopez Cornejo, whose family alleges medical negligence.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey has formally challenged Immigration and Customs Enforcement over policies at the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark. The organization sent a letter to ICE raising serious constitutional concerns regarding visitation rules for detainees held at the center. This action follows the recent death of Edwin Jovanny Lopez Cornejo, which has sparked outrage among his family members and local advocates.
A Tragic Death in Custody
Edwin Jovanny Lopez Cornejo was a 39-year-old man from El Salvador who had lived in the United States for approximately two decades. He died on Saturday after suffering a medical emergency while detained at Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center owned and operated by The GEO Group. Officials stated that he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital following his transfer from the facility.
Sources provide conflicting details regarding Cornejo's age, with one report listing him as 41 years old and identifying him as a native of El Salvador who lived in Plainfield. Regardless of the specific age cited, reports confirm he experienced a medical emergency on Saturday that led to his death at University Hospital in Newark.
An official cause of death has not yet been determined pending further medical examination by authorities. However, U.S. Senator Andy Kim stated publicly that Cornejo died from a heart attack during the incident.
Family Accuses Officials of Negligence
Six relatives of Cornejo gathered for a press conference on Tuesday to express their deep frustration with how ICE oversaw his medical treatment while he was in custody. His mother, Maria Cornejo, wept as she told the crowd that her son was not given proper medical care and described him as a hardworking person who did not harm anyone.
Maria stated outside the Reformed Church of Highland Park that it is unfair for her son to have died because of alleged medical negligence. She insisted that he needed immediate medical attention but claimed officials refused to provide it despite his condition deteriorating.
The family alleges that Cornejo had gone without necessary medication since his arrest on June 18, which they say contributed significantly to the fatal outcome. Kathy O'Leary, a lead organizer at Eyes On ICE, supported this claim by stating that every single person entering the facility gets denied their medication for a period of time.
Cornejo's mother told New Jersey Monitor she last spoke with her son on Friday when he mentioned feeling numbness in his face and hand. She reported to media outlets that he had not been given his medicine for diabetes and high blood pressure regularly while held at the center.
Conflicting Accounts of Care
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Monday night asserting that Cornejo received proper medical care while in custody and was seen by qualified medical professionals. Maria Cornejo immediately rejected this official account, calling those statements lies during her public remarks to the press.
Cornejo's 12-year-old daughter tearfully spoke about her father at the event and described the treatment he endured as horrible. She accused officials of trying to cover up the fact that they killed him by withholding necessary care.
This incident marks the second death at Delaney Hall since last year, following the passing of Jean Wilson Brutus in December. Brutus was a 41-year-old Haitian national who died 24 hours after being taken into custody and rushed to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a day later.
Authorities say the previous death is suspected to be from natural causes, though this new case has reignited questions about oversight at the privately run facility. The Physicians for Human Rights noted that Cornejo's death represents the 53rd known death in ICE custody since the start of the Trump administration.
Facility Under Scrutiny
The federal immigration center in Newark is operated by GEO Group under a 15-year, $1 billion contract with ICE. The privately run facility has been the site of numerous protests this spring amid allegations of poor conditions and mistreatment of detainees held there.
Cornejo's mother told reporters she has not heard from either GEO Group or ICE regarding her son's death since University Hospital notified her family. She expressed being destroyed by his loss, stating she does not have the words to describe how heartbroken she feels about what happened.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help Edwin Cornejo's family cope with the financial and emotional impact of losing their loved one in custody. The ACLU letter emphasizes that visitation with loved ones is essential, suggesting these policies may have failed detainees during critical times.
The death comes months after Jean Wilson Brutus died at a hospital while in ICE custody, raising concerns about repeated failures within the system. Local residents are now watching closely to see if Governor Mikie Sherrill will fight for answers regarding how this tragedy occurred.
Questions residents are asking
What is Delaney Hall and who runs it?
Delaney Hall is an immigration detention facility located in Newark that is owned and operated by The GEO Group, a private for-profit prison company. It operates under a 15-year contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement worth $1 billion.
Why did Edwin Cornejo die according to his family?
His mother claims he was not consistently given medicine for high blood pressure and diabetes since his arrest on June 18. She alleges that officials refused him necessary medical attention despite him reporting numbness in his face and hand the day before he died.
What is ICE's official response to these claims?
The Department of Homeland Security stated on Monday night that Cornejo received proper medical care while in custody and was seen by medical professionals. The family has rejected this statement as false, insisting he died due to negligence.