Family Alleges Medical Negligence After Salvadoran Man Dies in ICE Custody

The family of Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, a 41 year old man from El Salvador, is alleging medical negligence after he died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Delaney Hall detention facility in New Jersey. According to ICE, Lopez-Cornejo was pronounced dead on August 1 at University Hospital in Newark following a medical emergency. The agency stated that facility staff responded immediately and called 911, maintaining that the man received proper medical care. The official cause of death is pending further examination.

During a press conference on August 4, the family of Lopez-Cornejo demanded an independent investigation. They stated that he suffered from high blood pressure, diabetes, and epilepsy, and required several medications to manage these conditions. His mother, Maria Cornejo, reported that her son told her he had lost feeling in his arm and half of his face the day before he died. His 12 year old daughter also alleged that he was denied medications and experienced significant weight loss while detained.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill stated that her administration has faced obstruction in efforts to conduct a full health inspection of the facility. This incident occurs amid broader scrutiny of immigration detention conditions. Reports indicate that more than 50 people have died in ICE custody nationwide since January 2025. While the administration states these actions are intended to improve domestic security, rights groups argue the current crackdown violates due process and creates an unsafe environment for ethnic minorities.