Family Demands Answers After Man Dies In ICE Custody At New Jersey Facility
The family of a Salvadoran man who died in ICE custody is demanding answers, alleging he did not receive urgent medical treatment before his death.
Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, died on Saturday after suffering what ICE described as a medical emergency while being held at the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. Federal officials said he was transported to hospital after staff called emergency services, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
During a press conference, Lopez-Cornejo's family questioned the medical care he received in detention. They said he had complained of numbness in his face and arm a day before his death and argued he should have been taken to hospital immediately. Family members also said he had underlying conditions including high blood pressure and diabetes.
His mother, Maria Cornejo, said doctors should have recognised the seriousness of his symptoms, while his 12 year old daughter told reporters she would now have to grow up without her father. The family is seeking the release of all medical records relating to his detention and treatment.
ICE said Lopez-Cornejo received appropriate medical attention while in custody and insisted staff responded immediately when he experienced a medical emergency. The agency said the official cause of death remains pending following a medical examination.
The family is calling for an independent investigation into the death and has urged authorities to close the Delaney Hall detention centre. They also want detainees currently being held there to be relocated while conditions and medical care at the facility are reviewed.
The case has intensified scrutiny of immigration detention facilities in the United States. New Jersey officials have previously sought greater access to inspect Delaney Hall, while advocacy groups continue to raise concerns over detainee welfare and access to healthcare.
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