Key facts
- New Jersey has opened a civil rights investigation into the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility.
- The probe follows the death of detainee Edwin Lopez-Cornejo and numerous complaints about conditions.
- Allegations include poor conditions, spoiled food, unsanitary bathrooms, and inadequate medical care.
- The investigation will examine if GEO Group employees violated detainees' civil rights.
- Governor Mikie Sherrill has opposed private detention facilities and called for Delaney Hall's closure.
New Jersey civil rights officials have initiated a probe into the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Newark, operated by the private prison company GEO Group. The investigation was announced following the death of detainee Edwin Lopez-Cornejo on Saturday after suffering a medical emergency, and amid ongoing complaints about conditions at the facility.
Lopez-Cornejo's family has accused facility operators of failing to provide adequate medical attention for his pre-existing conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and epilepsy. ICE stated that Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care. The state's investigation, led by Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, will focus on whether GEO Group employees violated the civil rights of detainees.
Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed facility, has been a site of frequent protests due to allegations of spoiled food, unsanitary conditions, and insufficient medical care. In May, protests led to clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, resulting in the arrest of U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver and Mayor Ras Baraka. Governor Mikie Sherrill, who has expressed opposition to private detention facilities and called for Delaney Hall's closure, previously ordered state police to assume control of the area around the jail.
More than 50 individuals have died in ICE custody nationwide since January 2023, according to reports.