Third migrant death reported at New Jersey ICE detention center

A third migrant has died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey, according to the New York Immigrant Coalition. The death, which occurred in late July 2026, was not publicly disclosed until after a congressional visit to the facility earlier this week.

“

A third person has now died in detention at Delaney Hall. The death of this person occurred at the end of July 2026 and was not disclosed until a supervisory visit by a congressman to the center earlier this week.

The identity of the deceased migrant has not been released. This latest death follows those of Edwin López Cornejo, a Salvadoran national who died on August 1, and Jean Wilson Brutus, a Haitian national who died in December 2025. In all three cases, authorities have attributed the deaths to medical emergencies.

“

Another death occurred a few weeks ago at Delaney Hall. A person who had just been transferred there suffered what they believe (ICE and the center's manager, GEO company) was a seizure.

New Jersey Congressman Rob Menéndez visited Delaney Hall unannounced after learning of López Cornejo's death. He noted that another individual, recently transferred to the facility, suffered what appeared to be a seizure and was taken to a hospital, thus no longer being in ICE custody. Menéndez highlighted a recent change in ICE policy, which no longer requires reporting deaths that occur more than 30 days after an individual leaves ICE custody.

“

Why did they do that? Recently, ICE changed its rules, so they no longer report deaths that occur 30 days after someone leaves ICE custody.

The New York Immigrant Coalition has criticized the handling of death reports within immigration detention centers, citing a lack of transparency. Murad Awahdeh, the coalition's president, called the third death a "devastating tragedy that should have been avoided" and stated it reflects a "pattern of abuse" in facilities nationwide. The organization is advocating for increased oversight and improved conditions for detained migrants.

“

The third reported death at Delaney Hall is a devastating tragedy that should have been avoided. Unfortunately, this death is not an isolated incident in these facilities, but a pattern of abuse both here and in detention centers across the country.