A Salvadoran man detained at a New Jersey immigration facility died on Saturday after experiencing a medical emergency, prompting calls from his family and advocates for an independent investigation and increased scrutiny of the detention center’s conditions. Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, who was 39 or 41 years old according to different accounts, had been held at Delaney Hall in Newark since his arrest in June.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Lopez-Cornejo’s death and said he received appropriate medical care while in custody. The agency stated that staff responded immediately to his medical emergency and called 911 for emergency services. ICE indicated that the official cause of death would be determined following further medical examination. Lopez-Cornejo was accused of entering the United States illegally and was detained pending removal proceedings.

Relatives of Lopez-Cornejo, who appeared at a news conference and gathered outside a Newark church on Tuesday, expressed grief and frustration over what they described as inadequate medical treatment. His mother, Maria Cornejo, relayed that her son suffered from chronic conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and epilepsy, which were managed with medication prior to his detention. She said Lopez-Cornejo had complained about not receiving consistent access to his prescribed medications and had reported losing sensation in half of his face and arm shortly before his death. Family members also said they have been denied access to his medical records and called for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.

Lopez-Cornejo is survived by a 12-year-old daughter, and his family emphasized his role as a hardworking father and son. Their statements have fueled ongoing criticism of Delaney Hall, which has been the focus of protests and calls for reform due to alleged poor living conditions and limited oversight. Activists and community members have expressed concern over the treatment of detainees, highlighting Lopez-Cornejo’s death as part of a broader pattern of fatalities in ICE custody.

Since President Donald Trump took office, more than 50 people have died in immigration detention facilities nationally. In response, advocates and some lawmakers have pushed for greater transparency and have criticized federal authorities for restricting state inspections of the Delaney Hall facility. New Jersey’s attorney general has previously pursued legal action to obtain full access to the center’s housing and medical units amid reports of inadequate care.

Supporters argue that Lopez-Cornejo’s death was preventable and call for accountability, while ICE maintains that detainees at Delaney Hall receive proper medical attention in secure and humane conditions. The Geo Group, the private contractor that operates the facility, has not commented publicly on the incident. The case continues to draw attention to the challenges faced by immigrants in detention and the operation of privately run immigration facilities in the United States.