Third Death Reported at New Jersey ICE Detention Center

A Guatemalan national detained at a New Jersey immigration facility died in July following a medical emergency, marking the third fatality connected to the Delaney Hall detention center since its reopening last year. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the death of José Chajón Raxón, who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on July 18 and transported to the facility in Newark. The agency stated that a nurse observed him experiencing seizure-like activity on July 19 and that medical personnel immediately transported him to a hospital. Chajón Raxón was released from ICE custody on July 22, but the exact date and circumstances of his death were not provided in official statements.

The DHS emphasized that ICE is not responsible for monitoring or investigating deaths of individuals who are no longer in its custody. A spokesperson said the agency was not notified of Chajón Raxón's death. This case has intensified scrutiny of ICE's death reporting practices. Earlier this year, the agency altered its policy to stop reporting deaths occurring within 30 days after release from custody, reversing a practice established in 2021. U.S. Representative Rob...