How many people have died at Delaney Hall recently?

Officials say this is the second person to die in ICE custody at Delaney Hall within an eight-month period. The first death occurred earlier, and Edwin Lopez-Cornejo's passing on Saturday marks the most recent fatality.

What medical conditions did the deceased detainee have?

Court filings indicate he suffered from focal epilepsy, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Family members claim he was denied medication for diabetes and high blood pressure while in custody, though ICE states he received proper care.

When did the arrest leading to this death occur?

ICE agents arrested Edwin Lopez-Cornejo on June 18 in Plainfield. He was held at Delaney Hall for approximately six weeks before dying on Saturday while awaiting reinstatement of a deportation order from 2006.

Second Death at Delaney Hall Sparks Renewed Calls from NJ Democrats

Name: Second Death at Delaney Hall Sparks Renewed Calls from NJ Democrats
Uploaded: 2026-08-14T00:47:57.038Z
Description: A second detainee died in ICE custody at Newark's facility within eight months, prompting state and federal lawmakers to demand answers regarding medical care.

A second detainee died in ICE custody at Newark's facility within eight months, prompting state and federal lawmakers to demand answers regarding medical care.

By The Eleventh staff · August 13, 2026 · AI-assisted, grounded in the cited sources below

Officials confirmed the death of Edwin Lopez-Cornejo while he was held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Delaney Hall in Newark on Saturday night. This marks the second fatality recorded inside the privately-run detention center within an eight-month period, according to local reports.

ICE officials identified Lopez-Cornejo as a 41-year-old native of El Salvador in a statement released Monday evening, though other sources listed his age as 39 at the time of death. An official cause has not been determined pending further medical examination by authorities.

The Decades-Long Immigration History

Lopez-Cornejo's legal history dates back twenty years to August 13, 2006, when U.S. Border Patrol arrested him for entering the country without inspection. A federal immigration judge ordered his removal within two weeks of that arrest.

He was deported to El Salvador on October 19, 2006, but ICE stated he illegally re-entered the United States at a later unknown date before being caught again. No other criminal history was cited in connection with his recent detention or prior entry attempts.

Recent Arrest and Detention Timeline

ICE agents arrested Lopez-Cornejo on June 18 in Plainfield, where he had been residing as a father to a 12-year-old U.S. citizen child according to court filings. He remained in custody at Delaney Hall for approximately six weeks while ICE pursued the reinstatement of his prior removal order from two decades ago.

On July 24, federal immigration attorneys filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention due to chronic health conditions that included focal epilepsy and high blood pressure. The legal filing also noted he suffered from high blood sugar levels which required ongoing management while in custody.

Conflicting Accounts on Medical Care

ICE stated in its official release that Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals during his time at the facility. However, family members told reporters that they believe he was denied necessary medication for his diabetes and high blood pressure before passing away.

U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman released a statement following news of the death on Saturday, echoing concerns raised by relatives about access to treatment. She noted that Cornejo had been in ICE detention at Delaney Hall for about six weeks prior to the incident.

Political Reactions and Oversight Visits

U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez confirmed Lopez-Cornejo's death following an unannounced oversight visit to the detention facility earlier on Monday morning. He joined other state and local elected officials in demanding answers from federal authorities as scrutiny of the center grows.

State lawmakers have renewed their calls for the closure of the Newark ICE facility, citing this second death within eight months as a critical failure of safety protocols. Some critics argue that the situation highlights systemic issues with how medical emergencies are handled inside private detention centers.

Legal Proceedings and Court Filings

Days after the habeas corpus petition was filed, Judge Brian R. Martinotti presided over proceedings in Newark federal court regarding Lopez-Cornejo's case before his death occurred on Saturday. The legal team had specifically pointed to chronic health issues as grounds for challenging continued detention.

The sequence of events shows a rapid escalation from the July 24 filing highlighting medical needs to the fatal incident just weeks later without an official explanation yet provided by ICE investigators. Court records indicate that Lopez-Cornejo's attorneys were actively working to secure his release based on these health concerns.

Implications for Local Residents

Residents of Morris, Essex, and Passaic counties are facing renewed debate over the presence of a federal detention center in Newark as another life is lost under its watch. The death has intensified pressure on officials to explain why someone with known chronic conditions was not released or treated differently.

For families like Lopez-Cornejo's who live nearby in Plainfield, the loss represents a personal tragedy compounded by fears that similar medical neglect could happen again without immediate changes to facility operations.