Family alleges medical negligence in ICE detainee's death

WASHINGTON – The family of an El Salvadoran man who died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody is alleging medical negligence and is calling for an independent investigation into his death.

ICE said Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, who was detained at the Delaney Hall detention facility in New Jersey, was pronounced dead on Saturday at University Hospital in Newark after suffering what the agency described as a medical emergency.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Lopez-Cornejo’s family said he had several preexisting medical conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and epilepsy, and depended on medication to manage them.

His mother, Maria Cornejo, said her son called her a day before his death and told her he had lost feeling in one side of his face and one of his arms.

“My son needed medical attention, and he did not receive it,” she said in Spanish.

His 12-year-old daughter also claimed that Lopez-Cornejo was denied his medications while in custody and had lost a significant amount of weight during his detention.

The death has drawn renewed attention to conditions inside U.S. immigration detention facilities. Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the quality of medical care and living conditions, noting that more than 50 people have died in ICE custody nationwide since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.

ICE rejected allegations of inadequate care, saying Lopez-Cornejo received appropriate medical treatment and was regularly evaluated by healthcare professionals.

The agency said detention facility staff and medical personnel responded immediately when Lopez-Cornejo experienced a medical emergency and called 911 for emergency assistance. ICE added that the official cause of death remains under investigation.

The agency reiterated its statement after being asked to respond to the family’s allegations.

Calls for investigation

Lopez-Cornejo’s family is seeking an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also said her administration continues to face obstacles in conducting a full health inspection of the Delaney Hall detention facility.

ICE has denied reports of poor conditions at its detention centers and said it remains committed to protecting the health and safety of detainees.

The agency has been a key part of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation efforts, which rights groups have criticized for allegedly violating due process and free speech protections.

Human rights advocates have also expressed concerns that the immigration crackdown has created an unsafe environment for ethnic minorities, citing reports of racial profiling.

President Trump has defended his immigration policies, saying they are intended to strengthen domestic security. -Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani/Reuters