Edwin Lopez-Cornejo dies after emergency at Delaney Hall

A 41-year-old Salvadoran man died on Saturday, August 1, 2026, after suffering a medical emergency while in custody at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement identified the detainee as Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, who was pronounced dead at University Hospital in Newark. The official cause of death remains pending, according to the agency.

ICE stated that Lopez-Cornejo experienced the medical emergency while at the facility, prompting staff and on-site medical personnel to respond immediately, call 911, and administer CPR. He was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The agency said Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical care, including his prescribed medication, during his detention.

Lopez-Cornejo's mother, Maria Cornejo, disputes that account. She said her son, who had lived in Plainfield for about 20 years and was the father of a 12-year-old daughter, had prescriptions for diabetes, high blood pressure, and seizures. She believes he was not receiving those medications during the more than six weeks he was detained. In an interview, she stated that hospital staff, not ICE, informed her of...