New Jersey immigrant called his mom from ICE detention to say he was sick. He died the next day
Tragedy at Delaney Hall: Salvadoran Father Dies Days After Calling Family From ICE Detention
Goldlaner.com – A Salvadoran father has died while being held at a New Jersey immigration detention facility, becoming the latest victim in a growing list of deaths within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, whose final phone call to his mother came just days before his death, was pronounced dead on Saturday at University Hospital in Newark. The facility, known as Delaney Hall, has faced mounting criticism over conditions for those detained there.
A Father’s Final Calls
Maria Cornejo, Edwin’s mother, had been expecting a routine phone call from her son on Saturday, August 1. Instead, she received a call from the hospital informing her that her son had suffered a medical emergency at the detention center. The hospital reported that his heart had already stopped beating when he arrived. This came after Edwin called her the previous day to report that he was not feeling well, describing numbness in part of his face and one of his hands. A doctor was scheduled to visit and arrange tests.
“This pain. I will never heal from it. This pain is irreparable,” Maria Cornejo said, expressing her grief over the loss of her son.
Edwin had shared with his mother that he had lost approximately 30 pounds during his six weeks at Delaney Hall. He told her he was not receiving the medication he needed for his medical conditions, which included diabetes, high blood pressure, and epilepsy. He also described being held in a crowded cell with about ten other detainees who shared a single open toilet.
A Daughter’s Loss
Edwin’s twelve-year-old daughter, who had been unable to visit her father at the detention center, spoke emotionally at a news conference on Tuesday. She expressed her sorrow at growing up without her father and noted that he had not been allowed to see her one final time before his death.
“I’m going to grow up without a father. They didn’t even let him see me one last time before he died,” the young girl said through tears. “No one here is illegal. Everyone here should feel welcomed, not seen as criminals.”
Edwin’s age has been reported differently by his family and federal officials. His family stated he was 39 years old, while ICE identified him as 41 in its official statement. The official cause of death remains pending further medical examination.
Delaney Hall Under Scrutiny
The privately owned Delaney Hall facility has been at the center of allegations regarding inhumane conditions for detainees. These concerns led to dayslong protests earlier this year, along with clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators that prompted Newark’s mayor to enact a temporary curfew. The facility is operated by the GEO Group, a private prison company that manages detention centers across the United States.
At a Tuesday news conference, Maria Cornejo demanded justice for her son, her granddaughter, and “everyone else who has been hunted down like criminals by ICE,” speaking in Spanish through a translator. The family called for an independent investigation into Edwin’s death, the release of all medical records related to his case, and the closure of Delaney Hall. They also urged the release of all detainees, particularly those who are medically vulnerable.
The family called on New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill specifically to open an investigation into what they described as a health crisis at the detention center.
A Growing Crisis in ICE Custody
Edwin Lopez-Cornejo’s death follows the December 2025 death of Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old migrant who died within a day of entering Delaney Hall. Brutus died of suspected natural causes after suffering a medical emergency, according to ICE. The two men are among more than 50 ICE detainees who have died since President Donald Trump returned to office last year and began pushing for mass deportations.
More detainees died in custody in 2025 than in any year in at least two decades, and 2026 is on track to be even higher. The rising death toll has drawn attention to issues of understaffing and Department of Homeland Security policies that may be driving fatalities in detention centers.
When asked for comment on Maria Cornejo’s account, the Department of Homeland Security referred CNN to ICE’s statement from Monday on Lopez-Cornejo’s death. The GEO Group also referred questions to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE stated that while in custody, Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals. His family and the consulate of El Salvador in Elizabeth, New Jersey, were notified of his death.
“ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments,” the agency said in its statement.
The family’s demands for transparency and accountability reflect broader concerns about the treatment of immigrants in U.S. detention facilities. As investigations continue, the case of Edwin Lopez-Cornejo has become a symbol of the human cost of immigration enforcement policies and the need for improved medical care and oversight in detention centers across the country.
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