Newark ICE Custody Death Raises Questions Over Medical Response at Delaney Hall
Haitian national 41 died last week after a medical episode in federal immigration custody at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey. The event has highlighted the facility’s conditions, which have boosted detainee numbers in recent months.
Immigration officials claimed ICE apprehended Jean Wilson Brutus on December 11 and took him to Delaney Hall. He was painless and had no cardiac trouble. Brutus was brought to University Hospital in Newark for an emergency later that day. His December 12 death was announced.
ICE reported Brutus’ natural death. In particular, immigrant rights groups and on-site witnesses have questioned emergency treatment scheduling. An ambulance responding to Brutus was stopped at the facility’s gate for several minutes while another entered, witnesses said. These claims have drawn criticism and openness calls.
This death raises detainee safety concerns, say Delaney Hall activists. Volunteers who monitor the hospital warn congestion and operational pressure may increase medical emergencies. First ICE detainee to die at Delaney Hall, which opened this year, was Brutus.
Federal data shows Delaney Hall’s population growing significantly. The average daily inmate count rose from 200 in September to 800 last month. Due to significant growth, facility staffing, medical capacity, and emergency preparation are under examination.
ICE also found that Brutus entered the US illegally through Texas in June 2023 and settled in New Jersey. He had many police encounters in the months after being charged with criminal mischief. ICE issued an immigration detainer after his late November arrest. He was briefly released before federal officials re-arrested him in December.
Advocates worry about public notice time. Under federal law, immigration custody deaths must be reported within two business days. Critics say the show fell short, prompting unhappiness and distrust.
In a year with more ICE detention deaths than usual, Brutus died. Politicians, human rights groups, and oversight authorities are investigating immigration policy experts’ prediction that 2025 will be the bloodiest year for inmates in 20 years.
ICE officials stated internal evaluations are done after inmate fatalities, but Delaney Hall protocols have not altered. As New Jersey incarceration conditions are criticized, protesters want independent supervision, better medical response protocols, and clearer reporting of serious incidents.
Sources
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal immigration detention reporting requirements
