A Salvadoran man, Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, has died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. His death, confirmed by ICE on Monday, marks the second fatality at the facility in less than eight months and has prompted outrage and demands for accountability from immigration advocates and local officials.

Lopez-Cornejo experienced a medical emergency on Saturday and was transported to a Newark hospital, where he was pronounced dead. ICE stated that staff from GEO Group, the private contractor operating Delaney Hall, and medical personnel responded to the emergency. An official cause of death has not yet been determined.

According to ICE records, Lopez-Cornejo was initially detained and deported after crossing into the U.S. without authorization in 2006. He later re-entered the country and was apprehended again in Plainfield, New Jersey, in mid-June of this year. He was subsequently held at Delaney Hall while his previous deportation order was reinstated. Lopez-Cornejo is survived by his 12-year-old daughter.

Immigration advocates and his family have raised concerns about his medical care. Lopez-Cornejo reportedly suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure, and seizures, and his advocates claim he was denied necessary medication while detained. His mother, Maria Cornejo, shared in a video posted online that her son had told her he was feeling unwell and experiencing numbness in his face and hand the day before his death.

The incident has reignited calls for the closure of Delaney Hall, which has faced scrutiny following the death of another detainee, Jean Wilson Brutus, 41, in December, also following a medical emergency. Protesters gathered outside the facility on Monday to hold a vigil for Lopez-Cornejo, demanding answers and justice.

ICE maintains that its detention facilities adhere to strict medical screening protocols. The agency asserts that detainees are screened for medical issues within hours of arrival, undergo comprehensive health checks within two weeks, and have access to 24-hour emergency medical care. ICE has stated that Lopez-Cornejo received appropriate care throughout his detention.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka expressed his condolences and frustration, calling the death "another painful moment for families connected to the facility." He highlighted the recurring nature of such tragedies within a short period. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also condemned the death, adding to the growing pressure on ICE and GEO Group to provide a thorough explanation and ensure better oversight.

This latest death underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the conditions and medical care within immigration detention centers across the United States. As investigations into the precise cause of Lopez-Cornejo's death proceed, questions linger about the adequacy of medical services provided to vulnerable detainees and the overall safety of facilities like Delaney Hall.