• A Salvadoran man, Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, died in ICE custody at Delaney Hall, marking the 22nd death in such facilities this year.
• Lopez-Cornejo's family alleges medical negligence, stating he was denied vital medication while detained.
• Calls for closure of the Delaney Hall facility have intensified amid concerns over detainee health and safety.

Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, a 41-year-old Salvadoran man, was pronounced dead at a New Jersey hospital on August 2 after suffering a medical emergency at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center, the second detainee death at this facility within a year, raising serious concerns about ICE's treatment of detainees, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.

Lopez-Cornejo had a documented history of health issues, including diabetes and high blood pressure, conditions that his mother claims were not adequately managed while he was in detention. She reported that he had called her the day before his death, saying he lost feeling in parts of his face and arm, indicating a potential medical crisis that went unaddressed, according to Reuters and India Times.

Following his death, protests erupted outside Delaney Hall as demonstrators called for accountability and the closure of the facility, echoing concerns raised by local officials like Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who stated this incident underscores the need for systemic changes within ICE operations, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The family's assertion of medical negligence has led them to demand an independent investigation into his death, amid broader scrutiny of conditions in ICE facilities across the U.S., where many detainees reportedly face inadequate medical care and oversight. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill expressed discontent with the lack of oversight at Delaney Hall and is advocating for comprehensive health inspections, according to Reuters and India Times.

ICE has thus far contended that Lopez-Cornejo received proper medical attention during his detention and that their medical staff responded correctly during his emergency. The agency noted that investigations into the cause of his death are ongoing, yet advocates stress that the agency's claims do not alleviate the urgent need for substantial reforms, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.